Explaining Cordierite Kiln Furniture

You use kiln furniture to hold and separate ceramic pieces in a kiln. Cordierite kiln furniture is made from a special mineral called cordierite. This material helps you fire ceramics safely and easily. Cordierite kiln furniture is special because it does not crack when temperatures change quickly. It also stays strong when the kiln gets very hot. The table below shows how cordierite kiln furniture works in your ceramic projects:

Key Takeaways

• Cordierite kiln furniture is strong and light. This makes it great for firing ceramics safely.

• It does not crack easily from quick temperature changes. This helps your ceramic pieces stay safe.

• Using cordierite can save energy and money. It needs less heat and lasts longer than other materials.

• There are different types of kiln furniture, like shelves and props. These help hold and organize ceramics during firing.

• Always look for cracks in your kiln furniture before using it. This helps you get the best results in your ceramic projects.

Kiln Furniture Overview

What Is Kiln Furniture

Kiln furniture helps hold and protect ceramics when firing. It includes shelves, posts, and other pieces that keep your work safe. These items stop your ceramics from losing shape or sticking together. They also help prevent breaking. Many industries use kiln furniture. Some examples are tableware, sanitaryware, glass-ceramics, insulators, and heavy clay.

Here is a table that explains what kiln furniture is and how it is used in ceramics:

You can pick kiln furniture made from different materials. Cordierite, mullite, and corundum are some choices. Cordierite is good for temperatures under 1300°C. It is common in ceramics and food processing. Mullite and corundum are stronger. They work better for harder jobs.

Role in Ceramics

Kiln furniture is important for your ceramics work. It keeps your pieces steady and safe when firing. Strong shelves and posts help stop damage. They also keep your work looking good. If you use kiln furniture made from silicon carbide, you get more benefits. These shelves are thinner and lighter. This saves space and energy in the kiln.

• You get better support for fragile pieces.

• High heat resistance helps your ceramics stay strong.

• Thinner shelves let you fit more pieces and use less energy.

Tip: Picking the right kiln furniture can help you make better ceramics and save time and energy.

Types of Kiln Furniture

When you work with ceramics, you need different types of kiln furniture to support your pieces during firing. Each type has a special job in the kiln. Here are the main types of kiln furniture you will find:

Kiln Shelves

Kiln shelves give you a flat surface to place your pottery or sculptures. You can choose shelves made from cordierite-mullite, corundum, or other strong materials. The size of the kiln shelf limits how big your projects can be. You should always pick the right shelf size before you choose your kiln. Shelves support your work as it goes through big temperature changes. You can adjust the height of the shelves by using posts of different sizes. This helps you fit pieces of many shapes and sizes.

Tip: Arrange your pottery on kiln shelves like a game of Tetris. This helps you use space well and keeps your pieces safe.

Props and Posts

Props and posts hold up the kiln shelves and create space between layers. You can use posts made from cordierite, mullite, or silicon carbide. These materials stay strong even at high temperatures. Posts let you stack shelves at different heights. This means you can fire tall or short pieces in the same kiln. Sometimes, you need to use props made from the same clay as your work to stop slumping during bisque firing. For glaze firing, make sure props do not stick to the glaze. You can coat them with alumina in wax resist to prevent this.

• Posts and props keep your ceramics steady.

• They help prevent warping or breaking during firing.

Kiln Cars

Kiln cars are large, movable platforms that carry kiln furniture and ceramics into and out of big industrial kilns. You load your shelves, posts, and wares onto the kiln car. Then, you move the whole setup into the kiln for firing. Kiln cars help you fire many pieces at once and make loading and unloading easier.

Note: Using the right types of kiln furniture helps you protect your work and get the best results from your kiln.

Cordierite Kiln Furniture

Properties of Cordierite

People pick cordierite for kiln furniture because it has special features. These features help you get better results when making ceramics. Cordierite does not expand much when it gets hot or cold. This means it keeps its shape even if the temperature changes fast. You can heat it up and cool it down quickly without cracks. Cordierite can even go from red hot to water and not break. This makes it very good at handling thermal shock.

Cordierite can also handle high heat. You can use it for kiln shelves at cone 10, which is about 1350°C. It stays strong and keeps its shape when it is hot. Cordierite is tough and hard, with a Mohs hardness of about 7. It is also a good insulator. It does not let heat move through it easily. It does not expand much when heated. These things help you save energy and make your kiln work better.

Here are the main features:

• Very low thermal expansion

• Great resistance to thermal shock

• Handles high heat up to 1350°C

• Good at stopping heat and electricity

• Mohs hardness is about 7

• Light and not heavy

Note: Cordierite kiln furniture is light, so you use less energy each time you fire.

Benefits in Ceramics

Cordierite kiln furniture gives you many good things when you make ceramics. It does not crack or break when you heat or cool it fast. This helps keep your ceramic pieces safe and looking good. Cordierite also does not bend or warp easily. Your kiln shelves stay flat and strong, even after many uses. This stops problems like sagging or warping that can mess up your work.

You can see how cordierite is different from other materials in this table:

Cordierite kiln furniture lasts a long time. You can use it for 80 to 150 firings before it starts to bend. Its strong structure and low expansion keep shelves flat and steady. This means you get the same good results every time you fire your ceramics.

You also save money and energy. Cordierite kiln furniture is light and does not need much heat. Your kiln uses less power to heat it up. Cordierite is strong, so you do not have to buy new shelves and posts often. This saves you money over time.

• You use less energy.

• You spend less on new parts.

• You get strong support for your ceramics.

Tip: If you want better firing results and to save energy, cordierite kiln furniture is a great pick.

Applications in Ceramics

Industrial Uses

Cordierite kiln furniture is used in many ceramic factories. Factories use setter plates to hold and separate items during firing. These setter plates keep each ceramic piece in place. This stops warping and cracking. You can find setter plates in technical ceramics, tableware, sanitaryware, and tile making. They are also important for powder metals, grinding media, and catalysts.

Here are some common ways cordierite setter plates and kiln furniture are used:

• Technical ceramics factories

• Tableware making

• Sanitaryware and tile factories

• Powder metal work

• Medical ceramics

• Heavy clay industries

• Grinding media and catalyst making

Setter plates made from cordierite have special features. They do not crack when the temperature changes fast. They are strong and do not expand much when heated. This means setter plates keep their shape and hold heavy things, even when hot. You can see these features in the table below:

Setter plates also help save energy. Because they are light, kilns heat up faster and use less power. In factories, you should check setter plates for cracks or chips after each use. Clean off any leftover material and use thermal imaging to find problems early.

Note: Cordierite setter plates support your ceramic pieces during firing and help them keep their shape. This means you waste less and get better quality.

Hobbyist Uses

People who work in home studios or small pottery shops also use cordierite setter plates. These setter plates help you organize and support your pieces in the kiln. They let you stack pieces safely and use kiln space well. Setter plates are light, so you can move them easily. They can handle quick heating and cooling, which happens in small electric kilns.

You want your ceramics to be strong and smooth. Setter plates with low thermal expansion stop your work from warping or cracking. They also help spread heat evenly, so every piece gets the same firing. For best results, use setter plates that are at least ¾ inch thick for cone 6 and 1 inch for cone 10. This keeps shelves flat and stops warping.

Here is a table that shows why setter plates are good for home studios:

Setter plates let you fire many pieces at once without damage. They support fragile pieces and stop them from sticking together. You get better results and waste less material.

Tip: Always check your setter plates before firing. Look for cracks or chips to keep your ceramics safe.

Cordierite kiln furniture helps your ceramics stay strong. It stops cracks and warping. Cordierite keeps its shape when things get hot or cold fast. Factories saw kiln parts last 32% longer with cordierite.

• Shelves stay flat because of low creep rates.

• High thermal shock resistance stops cracks from forming.

• Good stability at high heat means you replace shelves less.

You can count on cordierite kiln furniture to help you make great ceramics every time.