Ceramics Big Brain Tests

Enjoy these Ceramics Big Brain quizzes we've created for you, helping to test the Ceramics knowledge you have.

Question 1

What is Thremal shock?

Cracks in dry ware due to extreme temperature change?
Cracks in fired pieces due to extreme temperature change?
Stress to ware from extreme temperature change during firing?
S cracks on bases of pieces due to firing them damp?
Thermal shock: Extreme stress caused to a pot by sudden or uneven change in temperature.

Question 2

What is flux?

A material that brings down the melting temperature of Silica?
An ingredient to deflocculate slip?
A suspender?
A tape used for resist work?
Flux: Oxides (usually alkaline) which, when combined with the acid glassformer, silica, encourage and lower the temperature of ceramic fusion during firing

Question 3

What is Frit?

A material used to lower the melting point of a body or glaze?
A material used in clay bodies to increase plasticity?
A glaze Suspender?
Blended melted material, rendering a recipe safe, soluble or less volatile?
Frit/fritt: Materials which have been prepared for use by melting (usually together with at least one other material-often a pure silica-to form a fused compound) and grinding. This may be done for a number of reasons, including: reducing solubility, safely containing poisons, reducing volatility

Question 5

What is meant by plasticity?

The pouring ability of a glaze?
The setting ability of a deflocculated slip?
The characteristic property of clay which allows it to be a mouldable solid?
The ability of a clay body to be rolled into a slab?
Plasticity: The characteristic property of clay which allows it to be a mouldable solid. Plasticity in clays depends on a number of criteria, including the purity of the clay, uniformity and size of the particles, and the bonding of particles through souring.

Question 6

What is vitrification?

A vitrified body is one in which some of the silica in the body has been converted from its crystalline to its glassy phase?
The process of gasses escaping from a body at 785C (the daunting point)?
The process of firing pure porcelain?
The process of a glaze adhering to a piece?
Vitrification: The process by which silica is converted to glass by the action of heat and fluxes. A vitrified body is one in which some of the silica in the body has been converted from its crystalline to its glassy phase. If all of the silica in a body has been vitrified, it may slump in firing, and the finished pot will be very brittle.

Question 7

What does the term ´raw glaze´ mean?

A glaze without alkalis?
The practice of glazing pots when they are raw?
A glaze which is, itself, composed of raw, unfritted materials?
A glaze without Acid?
Raw glaze: Although this term is frequently used by studio potters to refer to the practice of glazing pots when they are raw, it strictly (particularly in industry) denotes a glaze which is, itself, composed of raw, unfritted materials.

Question 8

What is Pyroplastic?

A plastic that burns out during firing?
The description of a clay body after the bisque firing?
A mineral compound that reduces the firing range of a glaze?
A clay body in the kiln when heated to vitrification?
Pyroplastic: The condition of a clay body in the kiln when heated to vitrification. At this point, any impact upon the pot may alter its shape, and, ultimately, it may begin to sag under its own weight.

Question 9

What is Egyptian paste?

A Blue stain, used in bodies?
A self glazing clay?
A slip deflocculant?
A coloured slip like paste, used for textured decoration?
Egyptian paste: a prepared bady which contains soluble alkalalis which migrate to the surface by evaporation and thus deposit fluxes which will fuse with the body during firing, hence its description as a self glazing clay.

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