Ваll сlауs

Ваll сlауs

Ball clays are found in articles used daily by millions of people around the world - usually without them realising it! They are essential components of most types of pottery. They are easily mouldable and are white or near white when fired at a high temperature: ball clays are truly 'fine ceramic clays'. Because of the clay's high plasticity the cubes held together, but after being handled several times the corners became knocked in and the cubes turned into balls - so, to the potters, a plastic, white firing clay was a 'ball clay'.

The name 'ball clay' derives from the former method of winning the clay by cutting it from the floor of an open pit in cubes.Ball clays consist of ultra fine clay particles. This helps to make them sticky (or 'plastic') and easily shaped when damp (the word 'clay' is derived from the Old English 'claeg', meaning sticky).

Most types of 'whiteware' pottery contain both ball clay and china clay. The ball clay helps to shape the piece, adding 'green' strength to the body before firing, whilst china clay provides extra whiteness.