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Full Record for Micrograph 179
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- Micrograph no
- 179
- Brief description
- Terracotta pottery, showing the glaze on the surface
- Keywords
- ceramic
, clay, glaze, grog, SiO2, terracotta - Categories
- Ceramic
- System
- Terracotta
- Composition
- Terracotta is composed of mixtures of fired grog and clay.
- Standard codes
- Reaction
- Processing
- Applications
- Flowerpots, roof tiles, ornaments and sculptures, and other outdoor uses.
- Sample preparation
- Polished but unetched
- Technique
- Reflected light microscopy
- Length bar
- 250 μm
- Further information
- Terracotta can be made in large shapes due to the fact that a large part of the raw materials has been prefired, so firing shrinkage is low. The characteristic red colour is due to the presence of iron (II) oxide. The glaze is mostly SiO2, and is applied to render the surface impermeable to liquids and gases, and to provide a readily cleanable surface which protects the terracotta.
- Contributor
- Dr K M Knowles
- Organisation
- Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge
- Date
- 09/08/02
- Licence for re-use
Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales- Related micrographs