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Articles by Ryan Coppage
How Elements Die
If you’ve been in ceramics for very long, you’ve most likely changed elements in a kiln. Each time you do this, you lose out on firings and studio time, and it costs several hundred dollars—a huge chunk of change for a potter. More often than not, this happens every year or two. If you’re lucky, you’re working in a facility or university art program where some other poor soul changes them for you and you don’t know any better.
Sintering-Based In-Situ Synthesis and Characterization by TEM of Noble Metal Nanoparticles for Ceramic Glaze Color Control.
Title Sintering-Based In-Situ Synthesis and Characterization by TEM of Noble Metal Nanoparticles for Ceramic Glaze Color Control. Authors Karthik Lalwani Nathan Dihn Michael C. Leopold, University of RichmondFollow Ryan H.
Silver and Gold." by Karthik Lalwani, Michael C. Leopold et al.
Title Techno File: Silver and Gold. Authors Karthik Lalwani Michael C. Leopold, University of RichmondFollow Ryan Coppage Abstract Discover how silver and gold readily form nanoparticles during reduction firings (and gold in oxidation firings at mid range) that can be suspended in glazes to create unique colors. Publication Date 10-2021 Publisher Statement Copyright © 2021, Ceramics Monthly. https://ceramicartsnetwork.org/ceramics-monthly/ceramics-monthly-article/techno-file-silver-and-gold.
"A Multi-Size Study of Gold Nanoparticle Degradation and Reformation in" by Nathan NL. Dinh, Luke T. DiPasquale et al.
Home > AS > Chemistry > Faculty Publications > 55 Authors Nathan NL. Dinh Luke T. DiPasquale Michael C. Leopold, University of RichmondFollow Ryan H. Coppage DOI 10.1007/s13404-018-0230-7 Abstract Most traditional ceramic glazes employ high amounts of transition metal colorants that are toxic to the environment and can cause health issues in humans through surface leaching.
"Sintering-Induced Nucleation and Growth of Noble Metal Nanoparticles f" by Nathan Dinh, Michael C. Leopold et al.
Home > AS > Chemistry > Faculty Publications > 56 Authors Nathan Dinh Michael C. Leopold, University of RichmondFollow Ryan Coppage DOI 10.1007/s10904-018-0952-2 Abstract This study demonstrates the formation of nanoparticles (NPs) from metal salts within ceramic glazes, such that the use of this colorant technology is more accessible to artisans, employs less metal content, is less environmentally harmful, and allows for the use of traditional kilns.
Silver and gold used to make safer ceramic glaze
The colorful glaze on that ceramic mug of yours may look nice, but there's a chance that it could contain toxic substances. US scientists have thus created a safer type of glaze, that incorporates tiny particles of silver and gold. Although some manufacturers have switched to less harmful compounds, ceramic glazes traditionally utilized heavy metals such as barium and cadmium – and some glazes still do.
Techno File: Microcrystalline Glazes
Define the Terms: Crystallization: A precipitation (falling out) and growth of ordered material from a glaze base. The materials that promote crystallization in glazes are zinc, calcium, magnesium, titanium, or another metal oxide. Glaze Matrix: The glaze solution, which is often silica blended with various feldspars and fluxes to lower its working temperature and alumina to add stability to the melt and make its coefficient of expansion similar to that of clay.
Techno File: Kaolin and Color
Various clear glaze bases yield different colors from the same type and quantity of pigment. For example, an increase in kaolin content typically results in more scattering of light through your glaze, creating pastel tones of a single color. Define the Terms: Coefficient of Expansion (COE): The ratio of geometric expansion (height/width/depth) relative to a change in temperature that is assigned to both clays and glazes.
Techno File: Tenmoku to Tomato Red
Do you ever wonder what the surface of a glaze really looks like? Or how a glaze can completely change color with the adjustment of one ingredient? Explore some of the causes, using the transition from tenmoku to tomato red glazes as an example. Define the Terms Crystallization: A highly ordered, crystalline deposition of material that exists in large or small sizes, dependent on the amount of material provided for it to grow and the length of time it is allowed to grow.
Techno File: Dirty Dishes
Bacterial Colony: A circular region of visible growth in a petri dish where a bacterial cell has replicated to a visible mass of cells using available nutrients. BHI: Brain Heart Infusion agar is a nutrient-rich solid medium for growing microorganisms. Coefficient of Expansion (COE): The rate at which ceramic (or other materials, including glasses, glazes, and metals) expands or contracts as a function of temperature change.
Techno File: Chasing Chun
Define the terms: Absorption: The direct absorbance of light by a surface or solution—by charge transfer, d-orbital splitting in colored glazes, or by resonance in organic pigments. Light Scattering: The process of light being absorbed and dispersed in random, various angles—effectively what makes the sky or water blue.
Techno File: Carbon Trapping - Ceramic Arts Network
Body Reduction: An increased-reduction period in firing in which oxygen access to the kiln is decreased, often resulting in early iron reduction in the clay body after inversion has taken place. Carbon Trapping: The action of trapping soot on a ceramic surface, often at high points or in spotted patterns and to varying degrees. Concentration Gradient: A range of high material prevalence to low material prevalence in any particular area or across a surface.
Rare Earth Metals at Cone 6 - Ceramic Arts Network
A while back, we posted an article on using rare earth metals in high fire glazes. The rare earths metals, specifically the lanthanides, produce vibrant candy-like colors in ceramic glazes. Well, if you liked what you saw in that article, but you don’t fire to cone 9 or 10, you will love today’s post. In this excerpt from the Technofile in the latest Ceramics Monthly, Ryan Coppage, PhD gives the low down on rare earth minerals and shares a couple of rare earth cone 6 glaze recipes.
Techno File: Rare Earths at Cone 6 - Ceramic Arts Network
Dichroic: A dichroic substance is one that changes colors in various light sources–not necessarily in different polarizations of light. Fluorescent Light: Primarily on the blue-sided light spectrum, though we perceive it as yellow-white. Despite this perception, most of the intensity of the light profile exists on the blue (400-520 nm) side of the spectrum (CFL, warehouse lighting, and halogen street lamps).
Techno File: Rutile - Ceramic Arts Network
Rutile is just as fickle as it is beautiful. Not only is it finicky, but it is also different in composition between mined sources. With some rare metals riding shotgun alongside rutile, its performance is inconsistent but can be better understood. Niobium: A somewhat rare transition metal that has some notoriety for creating rainbow colors in electrochemistry and has opalescence, subdued color, and opacity effects in glazes.
Wood Fired Pots Without the Wood Kiln - Ceramic Arts Network
Wood firing clay is an exciting endeavor and if you ever have a chance to participate in a wood firing, I say do it! Wood firing clay results in beautiful surface treatments that range from melted rivulets of ash to delicate red-orange blushes, however not everyone has the time or energy (or kiln!) to devote to the wood-firing experience.
Demystifying the Reduction Firing Process - Ceramic Arts Network
We all know what reduction firing is, right? Or do we? The science of what happens in a reduction kiln and the resulting color palette might not be exactly what you think it is. When I read Ryan Coppage’s article on reduction firing in the March 2016 issue of Ceramics Monthly, I realized that I didn’t have the definition exactly right. So I thought I would share an excerpt from the article in this post.
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