Fabrication of Mambong Pottery by Using Slip Casting Method

Mambong pottery in Kuala Krai, Kelantan is one of the types of potteries in Malaysia other than Sayong, Terenang and Sarawak pottery. Mambong pottery was being made by traditional technique like pinching and throwing. In this research, Mambong pottery was made by using slip casting method. This method used porous mould which can absorb the water content from the clay slip. Different composition of water and clay was used and its effect on product properties was investigated. Samples with different composition of water and clay were labelled as 50C50W, 60C40W, 70C30W and 80C20W samples with addition of 0.7% of sodium silicate, Na2SiO3. The samples were characterized by its specific gravity (S.G.) of clay slip, drying and firing linear shrinkage, density and porosity and strength of the clay samples. Finding from this research showed that 70C30W sample is the optimum composition in fabricating pottery by using slip casting among other samples.

Influences of Inhibitor and Firing Temperature on Efflorescence Reduction of Clay Products

For ceramic industry, efflorescence is undesirable and cannot be completely eliminated from the finished products. The efflorescence is caused by soluble salts in the raw material and mostly appears as white deposit at the product’s surface. In this research, the removal of sulfate in the raw materials was studied. In addition, the sulfate ions were immobilized by forming a water-insoluble compound. The sulfate ions in the raw materials and fired products were extracted by distilled water, and the concentration was determined by using a UV-visible spectroscopy following the ASTM C1580-09 standard. Three sources of the raw materials from Tambon Suan Phung, Ratchaburi, Tambon Mae Win and Mae Ta, Chiang Mai, were analyzed for sulfate concentrations. The clay from Tambon Suan Phung, Ratchaburi which had the highest sulfate concentration was selected for further study on the effect of inhibitor and firing temperature on efflorescence inhibition. To reduce solubility of the sulfate, three kinds of inhibitor, i.e. barium chloride, barium carbonate and barium hydroxide, were added into the raw material at various concentrations, i.e. 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 wt% and homogeneously mixed by ball milling followed by the addition of distilled water to prepare the clay slip. The clay products were mold casted to 1 x 1 x 3 inch3 in size. Then, they were fired at 800, 900 and 1000 °C. It has been revealed that the addition of barium carbonate at 2 wt%, which is the highest amount employed in this study, and firing temperature of 900 °C resulted in least sulfate leaching due to the formation of water-insoluble barium sulfate. To perform a field test, the fired samples with and without the addition of barium carbonate were immersed in water for 4 months. The efflorescence was observed on the sample without barium carbonate within the 1st month. In contrast, with the addition of barium carbonate, no efflorescence was observed after testing for 4 months.

Using Natural Fibers in Forming the Body of Ceramic Lamp

The purpose of the study was to investigate the using natural fibers in forming the body of a ceramic lamp. Natural fibers were first mixed with clay slip and then wrapped around a balloon 3 or 4 times before being left to dry at room temperature. The balloon was burst with a needle, removed and the now dry clay-fiber body was fired at 1230 °C, following which electrical fittings were added.

Textile-Clay Laminates: a new-found craft technology from ancient Mesoamerica

ABSTRACTTwo Maya-period sites, Las Pacayas and Aguateca, have recently yielded fragments composed of a previously unknown material -- a laminate formed from multiple layers of woven cloth and clay slip. On-site and laboratory conservation efforts enabled the Aguateca finds to be identified as ceremonial headdress elements. Materials analysis and replication experimentation have elucidated technological aspects of this medium, and demonstrate its suitability for fabricating elaborate, lightweight items such as these.