SiO2 (Silicon Dioxide, Silica)
| COLE - Co-efficient of Linear Expansion |
0.035 |
| MLPT - Melting Point (MP) |
1720C (From The Oxide Handbook) |
Notes-The principle, and often only glass forming oxide in glaze. Normally comprises more than 60% of most glazes and 70% of clays. Special purpose formulations which lack silica often compromise structural stability and strength.
-Adjust this in relation to fluxes to regulate melting temperature and gloss.
-Increase it at the expense of B2O3 to make glaze harder, more durable, and brilliant. Boric oxide and silica can be interchanged to glaze melting temperature.
-Decreasing SiO2 increases the melt fluidity; increasing it raises the melting temperature, increases acid resistance, lowers expansion, increases hardness and gloss, and increases devitrification.
-It is normal to use as much as possible in any glaze to keep expansion low, to prevent crazing, and enhance body/glaze fired strength. Note, however, that in certain boracic and feldspathic compositions it can increase crazing so that other low expansion oxides may be needed to reduce glaze expansion.
-With boron and alumina, it has the lowest expansion of all oxides.
-In clay bodies, flint mineral particles act as a filler and behave as an aggregate, while SiO2 in feldspar, kaolin, ball clay, etc., participates directly in the chemical reactions taking place to build silicate glasses. Thus the particle size of the parent material is often important in determining whether contributed silica affects the chemistry and/or mineralogy or acts as an aggregate.
Mechanisms
Glaze Matteness - High Alumina Low silica high alumina glazes produce matte effects. The silica:alumina molar ratio is considered a good indicator of this type of matteness. A ratio of 5:1 is matte; 10:1 is glossy. The high alumina stiffens the glaze melt preventing it from solidifying to a flat surface.
Out Bound Links
- (Materials - Closest material equivalent)
Silica - SiO2 - Quartz, Flint
- (Materials - Material source)
Glass Sand - SiO2
Silicon dioxide, silica, quartz
- (Materials - Material source)
Feldspar
- (Materials - Material source)
Kaolin - Al2O3.2SiO2 or Al2Si2O5(OH)4 - Hydrated alumina silicate, Pure clay mineral
China Clay
- (Materials - Material source)
Nepheline Syenite - Generic
Neph Sy
- (Minerals - Closest mineral equivalent)
Quartz
The main crystalline mineral form of silica. White...
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