Ceramic Clay Firing Temperatures

Cone temperature conversion chart.

Ceramic clay firing temperatures.

People want to know if they can fire a certain clay to a certain cone. Each ceramic glaze should be fired to a specific temperature range. First it is important to know that the maximum cone rating of a stoneware or porcelain clay is the temperature at which it vitrifies. Stoneware glaze some decals fire to cone 10.

This is the hardening tightening and finally the partial glassification of the clay. For success a potter must know the correct temperature range at which their glaze becomes mature. The three most commonly used clay bodies are earthenware clay bodies mid fire stoneware clay bodies and high fire stoneware clay bodies. By cone 08 the ware is sintered and has become a ceramic material.

Clay can be divided into several classes based on its characteristics and at what temperature the clay must be fired in order for it to become mature or reach its optimum hardness and durability. Firing clay from mud to ceramic. The average firing temperature for high fire stoneware is 2381 1305. As a kiln is firing up and cooling down the changes in temperature make some profound changes in the clay.

The goal of bisque firing is to convert greenware to a durable semi vitrified porous stage where it can be safely handled during the glazing and decorating process. However anywhere from 2305 to 2336 1263 to 1326 may be appropriate depending on the specific clay used and desired effect. If the temperature goes too high the glaze will become too melted and run off the surface of the pottery. It is bisque fired and then glaze fired.

Ceramic work is typically fired twice. Firing converts ceramic work from weak clay into a strong durable crystalline glasslike form. You cannot fire pottery in a home oven because ovens do not get up to the high temperatures of more than 1 500 degrees fahrenheit that you need for firing clay. We get many questions about clay firing temperatures.

Ware and glaze types. The clay goes from this soft totally fragile substance to one which is rock hard impervious to water wind and time. Between the range of cone 8 and cone 12 high fire stoneware will mature.