Plainsman Clays | DIKA
Diamond Kaolin
Diamond Kaolin is a secondary kaolin that gives a plastic body good dry strength. It fires light in colour and also works as a source of alumina and silica in glazes.
$18.95
Suggested retail price. In-store prices and availability may vary by location.
Diamond is a secondary kaolin with an intermediate particle size and some montmorillonite in its mineralogy. Together these give it more plasticity and dry strength than many kaolins, so it is used mainly in throwing and other plastic forming bodies where greenware needs to stand up to handling. Its maker offers it as an alternative to Pioneer Kaolin.
It fires a light cream white. Typical chemistry is about 45.6% silica, 37.9% alumina, 0.7% iron oxide and 1.4% titania. Fired on its own to cone 10, it shrinks about 9.8% and absorbs about 8.9%. For a thin porcelain wall that needs to fire translucent, a low titania kaolin such as Grolleg is the better choice.
In glazes it supplies alumina and silica and helps keep the slurry in suspension. Properties vary from batch to batch, so test it before substituting it into an existing recipe.
- Secondary kaolin with an intermediate particle size
- Good plasticity and dry strength for a kaolin
- For throwing and other plastic forming bodies
- Fires light in colour
- Supplies alumina and silica to glazes
