Clay Composition Analysis

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School

University of Massachusetts, Amherst *

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Course

103

Subject

Material Science

Date

Oct 30, 2023

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pdf

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Eric Keefe Part 1: Present the data from which you will make your analysis; Earthenware, Porcelain, and Stoneware are the types of clay tested. Part 2: Respond to the following prompts, communicating what you can learn from the data y you collect the data I provided from classroom measures of plasticity. 1. How reproducible are measures of the physical properties of these clays? In principle, these clays are homogenous, and all samples of the same type (Earthenware, for example) should have the same composition. Do the samples all have the same water content? The same fraction of kaolin? Why might one of these have a less random error associated with it? - Water content varies, with Porcelain having the most followed by Earthenware and Stoneware. The variations could be from differences in clay composition or measurement errors. The variation in kaolin content is consistent with the differences in plasticity. Stoneware has the highest kaolin, which also means the lowest chance of error. 2. Is there much variability between the three types of clay we studied? What does this imply About the origin of these clays - are they clays likely to be indigenous (dug from the ground and used with minimal processing) or manufactured (mixed from relatively precise quantities of relatively pure materials)? - There is variability in water content and kaolin % between the clays. Earthenware and Stoneware have a higher % of kaolin which means they should be more indigenous. Porcelain on the other hand has a lower % and may be manufactured. 3. In class, we gathered data to determine the plasticity of clays with different formulations as a function of water content. Those data are presented in the graph below, based on the class consensus for best communication. Use that graph to comment on whether and how the three clay types we have for use in demonstrations differ.

- Earthenware: Moderate Plasticity and Kaolin %, suitable for both hand molding and sculpting. - Porcelain: High plasticity and lowest Kaolin %, would be used for delicate handwork and sculpting fine details. - Stoneware has a moderately high plasticity and could be used for either hand work or wheel throwing. 4.Given what we learned in class about how Strongly the plasticity of clays depends on the water content, which sample(s)above are best suited for hand molding and sculpture, and which four wheel throwing? Think about the demands the potter will make on the material in each case. - The malleability of clays with higher plasticity makes them better for hand molding and sculptures. Porcelain would be the highest plasticity of them. For wheel throwing clays with moderate plasticity are preferred like the other two options. They have a good structure and are useful to potters.. 5.If you were to dig indigenous clay from a deposit with the intent to make durable pottery from How would the analysis we performed here help you to determine a good use for your clay? What would you test about your gathered clay before using it in production, and what would you hope to see the results? - You would need to analyze composition and % kaolin. They could test firing temperature, shrinkage rates, and absorption levels. Ideal results would have a balanced composition with low shrinkage rates and low absorption levels. Clay Plasticity Data:

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