EARTHENWARE

Firing Temperature: Earthenware is commonly biscuit (or "bisque") fired[1] to temperatures between 1000 and 1150 C (1800 and 2100 F), and glost-fired[2] (or "glaze-fired")[3] from 950 to 1,050 C (1,742 to 1,922 F). However, the reverse low biscuit and high glost firing can sometimes be found: this can be popular with some studio potters where biscuit temperatures may be 900 to 1,050 C (1,652 to 1,922 F) with glost temperatures around 1,040 to 1,150 C (1,904 to 2,102 F). The exact temperature will be influenced by the raw materials used and the desired characteristics of the finished ware. Higher firing temperatures are likely to cause earthenware to bloat. Composition: A generic composition for earthenware is 25% ball clay, 28% kaolin, 32% quartz and 15% feldspar.

Uses: Earthenware is used for pottery tableware and decorative objects.

STONEWARE
Firing Temperature: Stoneware is generally once-fired. Maximum firing temperatures can vary significantly, from 1100 C to 1300 C depending on the flux content. Typically temperatures will be between 1180C to 1280C, the higher end of which equate to Bullers Rings 38 to 40 & Seger cones 4 to 8. To produce a better quality fired glaze finish twice firing can be used, and this can be especially important for formulations composed of highly carbonaceous clays. For these, biscuit firing is around 900 C and glost firing 11801280 C. Water absorption of stoneware products is less than 1%.

Composition: Stoneware will be having a composition of plastic fire clays 0-100% , ball clays 0-15%, quartz, 0-30% feldspar and chamotte 0 -15%.

Uses Stoneware is used in making hotelware, kitchenware, cookware, garden products, electrical, chemical and laboratory ware.

PORCELAIN
Firing Temperature: Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between 1,200 C (2,192 F) and 1,400 C (2,552 F). The toughness, strength, and translucence of porcelain arise mainly from the formation of glass and the mineral mullite within the fired body at these high temperatures.

Composition: The proportion of 5 parts of clay, 3 parts of feldspar, and 2 parts of flint may be taken as the starting point in formulating porcelain bodies. The clay must be divided between kaolin and ball clay to make the body workable. If extreme whiteness is not desired, more ball clay may be used, and the body as a result will pot with less difficulty. Usually, in the interests of uniformity in case slight changes occur in the composition of the clays, several kaolins are used. If a soft feldspar such as nepheline syenite is used, less of it will be needed to bring about translucency. The flint content may vary, but if it exceeds about 25 percent, Bunting may result. The proportioning of the materials depends, of course, on the exact firing temperature, and a body designed for firing at cone 14 will have a good deal less feldspar in it than one designed for cone 9.

Uses: Porcelain is an excellent insulator for use at high voltage, especially in outdoor applications. Examples are: terminals for high voltage cables, bushings of power transformers, insulation of high frequency antennas and many other objects. Porcelain can be used as a building material, usually in the form of tiles or large rectangular panels. Modern porcelain tiles are generally produced to a number of recognized international standards and definitions.