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Unlike stoneware, and earthenware which is usually opaque, porous and coarser, Porcelain is a ceramic material which is produced as a result of heating up materials such as kaolin in kilns from temperature ranging from 1 200 to 1 400 degrees Celsius. Relative to other types of pottery, the strength, translucence, and toughness of the pottery rise mainly from the formation and verification of the mineral known as mullite which is usually within the body at the high temperature which we stated earlier.
There are lots of definitions of what porcelains really are, but one thing that is unanimously agreed on is the fact that porcelain pottery is divided into three main categories. These categories include the soft-paste, hard-pastes, and not forgetting the bone china. Meanwhile, categories aren’t something one can come up with without facts, the categories each object belongs to determine by the composition of paste which was/is used to formulate the body of the porcelain object, coupled with this is the firing conditions.
Some define porcelain as pottery which is resonant when struck. According to the people from the West, porcelain is materials that are usually translucent when they are moved closer to the light. Either definition can be questioned as there is some heavy porcelain which is opaque. Generally, the term porcelain stems from porcellana which is used in the past by Marco Polo to describe the type of pottery which he witnessed in China.
The history of porcelain
Going down memory lane and reminiscing on history. It is a fact that porcelain was first made in China. It was during the Tang dynasty which was between 618 and 907 ce. The popular one which all Westerners are familiar wasn’t birthed until the Yuan dynasty came to existence. This was between 1279 and 1368 ce. Made from kaolin (also known as white China clay) and petuntse which is a feldspathic rock known as China.
Without a doubt, porcelain was first made in China, then it was in its primitive form during the Tang dynasty. There were so many attempts by the Europeans to imitate the Translucent Chinese Porcelain. This led to the discovery of the soft – pate, artificial porcelain which is the mixture of ground glass and clay. The entire process requires firing which usually 1 200 degrees Celsius or 2 200 degrees Fahrenheit. This doesn’t apply to the hard – paste porcelain even though they both have a slight semblance. The clear difference between the two is the fact that artificial porcelains have a softer body. They can be sliced using files meanwhile true porcelain cannot. When dirt is accumulated on an unglazed base, one can remove this, though it will take a whole lot of time and effort. Meanwhile, true porcelain has dirt which can be removed with ease.
Florence was known during this time because they were responsible for the first European soft-paste porcelain. This was in 1575. Produced in different workshops which were under the patronage of Francesco I de’ Medici. It was then produced in little quantity, not until the 17th and 18th centuries. This was when they were produced in large quantity. In 1707, the true porcelain which was similar to the porcelain of China was discovered at the Meissen factory right in Saxony. It was discovered by nonother than Ehrenfried Walter Von Tschinhaus and Johann Friedrich Bottger. Meanwhile, the standard bone chine (English version) was made around 1800. This was when Josiah Spode the Second added calcined bones to the hard – paste porcelain formula. Some say that hard-paste porcelain is very strong, others argue that nature is a major factor, as this causes it to chip easily. This is not the same for hard – paste porcelain. The hard-paste porcelain is preferred on the European continent due to its durability and longevity.
The Benefits of Porcelain
When you talk about ceramics, without a doubt, porcelain is one of the supreme materials. With thousands of years gone, civilization has found a way to master the art of fire and learned a way to fix and assemble mineral materials (hard rocks, silica, clay, etc.).
The amazing thing about porcelain is its versatility. It can be used to make anything, especially anything that can make your house look great. From your French’s Epiphany to the tiles which one can use to decorate the walls, without a doubt, ceramics, most especially porcelain now have a place in our daily lives. Even when technology has brought us innovations technologically, we still have a soft spot for our ceramics.
The earthly feel it gives makes them undoubtedly a subconscious companion. The combination of pure minerals makes up the porcelain that we hear of today. The next question one would love to ask is “how close are they really are to us”? Well, maybe some of these examples would help.
Uses of porcelain:
- Electric Insulating material.
In the world of Ceramic Engineering, Porcelain is important material. It is an insulator for outdoor applications, especially for high voltage. Some of which include terminals for high – voltage cables, insulation of high-frequency antennas, bushings of power transformers amongst other things.
- Bathroom fittings.
Apart from acting as an insulator for electrical materials, Porcelain can be used to make bathroom fittings. Thanks to its durability, impermeability, and inability to rust. Glazed porcelain is a perfect material needed when it comes to personal hygiene. This fact has been in place since the 17th centuries. Then, you could only find the porcelain chamber in higher class European homes.
- Building Materials.
Lastly, porcelain can be used as a form of building material. This is usually in form of tiles and large rectangular panels. These modern-day porcelain tiles are produced by lots of international definitions and standards.
Conclusion
Without a doubt, even though they aren’t really known (not as a result of the rarity, but due to the fact that not all of us recognize this beautiful material), Porcelains are important materials. With this Article, porcelain shouldn’t be new to you anymore.
Brought to you by Windlichtsäule
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