Reduction Firing Ceramics Definition

Reduction firing is useful in developing certain colours such as reds from copper and effects such as the characteristic speckles caused by iron pyrites in clay.

Reduction firing ceramics definition. Reduction is incomplete combustion of fuel caused by a shortage of oxygen which produces carbon monoxide arbuckle 4 eventually all of the available oxygen is used. In traditional ceramics reduction firing requires a specially designed fuel fired kiln that restricts the flow of incoming air so there is enough to burn the fuel and no more in some cases it is restricted so that is actually less than enough to introduce carbon into the atmosphere. This is done by adjusting the fuel in a gas kiln or by adding organic material such as in raku. In this video we show you how to fire pottery in reduction.

Raku firing many people are interested in raku firing. A reduction atmosphere occurs when the amount of available oxygen is reduced. The terms oxidation and reduction refer to how much oxygen is in the kiln s atmosphere while the kiln is firing. Raku is an exciting ceramics firing technique because you are so involved in the firing process.

A kiln atmosphere which is deficient in free oxygen. Reduction firings can bring out some wonderful colors in pottery. In reduction firing oxygen is prevented from interacting with the glazes during glaze maturation. Reduction firing video small 2 3 mb large 9 3 mb pit firing pit firing is the most primitive method of firing consisting of a hole in the ground lined with combustible materials.

Reduction firing is typically done in a gas or other fuel burning kiln since the corrosive effects wear out the elements on an electric kiln. There are many factors to consider when it comes to firing your pottery in a kiln. Check out my website here. Reduction firing is the exact opposite of oxidation firing.

Most pottery professionals don t like to describe it especially to a persnickety chemist. Many high fire glazes are formulated for reduction and will not work successfully in neutral or oxidation firings. The reduction firing process almost as a standard the process of reduction is described with some degree of equivocation no matter where you go or in which ceramic setting you work. Fuel burning kilns give the artist control of how much or how little oxygen enters the firing chamber and when.

Reduction firing is when the kiln atmosphere which is full of combustible material is heated up. An oxidation atmosphere has plenty of oxygen for the fuel to burn.