Understanding Pottery Chapter 21 Thixotropy, Quartz Inversions and Other Pottery Mysteries Part 3

Welcome to Understanding Pottery, Chapter 21: Thixotropy, Quartz Inversions and Other Pottery Mysteries Part 3.
Many scientific terms and theories have a profound impact in the field of ceramics. Defining these terms and their implications in pottery provide the information to understand what is happening in your making processes. We start the exploration of thixotropy, quartz inversions and other pottery mysteries in this episode.
The next topic in the series is Pottery and Physics.
Understanding Pottery is a series in production by Washington Street Studios. The video series is a digital textbook that will take you through the entire ceramic process from the raw material through the finished ceramic pieces. There are five sections and twenty-six chapters planned in the series and they are:
Section I: The Pottery Making Sequence
Chapter 1: What is Clay?
Chapter 2: Clay Properties and Drying
Chapter 3: Bisque Firing
Chapter 4: Tips for Successful Glazing
Chapter 5: Pyrometric Cones
Chapter 6: Glaze Firing
Section II: Use of Raw Materials
Chapter 7: Chemistry for Potters
Chapter 8: Glaze Chemistry
Chapter 9: Oxides, Washes, Underglazes and Stains
Chapter 10: Geology for Potters
Chapter 11: Use of Local Materials
Section III: Kilns and Firings
Chapter 12: Atmospheric Firings
Chapter 13: Wood-Fired Kilns
Chapter 14: Gas-Fired Kilns
Chapter 15: Electric Kilns
Chapter 16: Raku Kilns
Section IV: Solving Problems
Chapter 17: Kiln Performance Problems
Chapter 18: Clay Body Defects
Chapter 19: Glaze Defects
Section V: Practical Applications
Chapter 20: Pottery Myths, Errors and Misconceptions
Chapter 21: Thixotropy, Quartz Inversions and Other Pottery Mysteries
Chapter 22: Pottery and Physics
Chapter 23: Pottery Figurin’ (Math)
Chapter 24: Personal Safety with Pottery
Chapter 25: Critiquing Your Own Pottery: Design Principles You Can Use
Chapter 26: Tips for Buying Used Pottery Equipment

At Washington Street Studios, we believe the sharing of creative energy and knowledge will improve the quality of our art and increase the appreciation of art within our community. We are striving to create an environment where the arts are shared and appreciated. We want to grow as a family of artists and contribute to our community.

[joseeugeniofariaalvim]

I can never thank you enough for the learning I am having here in Brasília, Brazil 🇧🇷. Thank you very much for sharing.

[freddiemoretti]

After this talk I will experiment with taking the hardened glaze at the bottom of the Potter's Choice bottles and see if I can get into a powder form and mix with slip keeping track of ratios. Will start of with test tiles and very small amounts. I mixed up my first lot of slip and probably have made up way too much so this will help use some up.
Thanks again for these good talks.
Cheers and be well...Freddie

[paulauksztulewicz]

So my question would be, "What would may be the most efficient method to try to reconstitute that "concrete-like" layer of glaze settlement at bottom of glaze bucket? In the past I had student helpers scrape it, break it up into manageable pieces, and reconstitute with hot water. Rather labor intensive.