Let's Talk Organic

Here is the formulation for the nice chrome-tin glaze I posted yesterday. Now we as potters will focus on these recipes. And there are some things to pay attention to on these raw material formulas: First, look for ways to remove soluble ingredients like Gerstley Borate or Colemanite. This glaze has already eliminated those types and replaced them with an insoluble frit. Second you need to have at least 5 to 10% clay component. Fine here. What isn't included in this recipe is the organic components that aid in adhesion, cohesion, viscosity, and anti-foaming agents. So how can this be improved so as to eliminate the crawling experienced in the initial application?

The first focus should be on the addition of a CMC or another organic binder to increase the adhesion of the glaze to the pot and the cohesion of the raw glaze. In addition to that I like a dispersant that reduces the viscosity of the glaze suspension. The best choice here is an ammonium polymethacrylate such as Darvan C. This is the most powerful dispersant available and doesn't introduce another alkali such as sodium which may interact with the flux package. Finally I like to add a silicone defoamer such as Dow DB1410 or other brands. This reduces the amount of bubbles that often end op on the the surface of pots - especially on the lip. So..... Let's tune up the raw glaze with organic additives.