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cm technical question

updated fri 24 oct 97

 

LOWELL BAKER on wed 15 oct 97

I recently received a question from Ceramics Monthly concerning the
material used in clay to make a ceramic cooking utensil heat up
in the microwave. I have never really thought about how this is
done. I have presumed high iron clays heat up faster than low iron
clays but in testing my limited sample I find this is not necessarily
true. I know that if the piece absorbs water due to a porous body or
small fractures in the glaze which hold water it will get extremely
hot in the microwave.

Anyway, if you know something specific about the clay makeup to
cause heat in teh ceramic container in the microwave I
would like to know. I will certainly give you credit in CM. I'm off
to call the engineers here at the university and see what they know.

You may E-mail me directly at WBAKER@WOODSQUAD.AS.UA.EDU, send the
answer to the list or send it directly to Ruth Butler at CM.

Lowell Baker
The University of Alabama

Karl P. Platt on thu 16 oct 97

ZrO2

VICTOR JOHNSTON on thu 16 oct 97

Knowing what metal does to a microwave, I am concerned about
possible damage in sticking high high iron content clays in one.
I would think it would shorten the life of the microwave
significantly. Does anyone have any real data on this?

>>> LOWELL BAKER
10/15/97 05:44am >>>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
I recently received a question from Ceramics Monthly concerning
the
material used in clay to make a ceramic cooking utensil heat up
in the microwave. I have never really thought about how this is
done. I have presumed high iron clays heat up faster than low
iron
clays but in testing my limited sample I find this is not
necessarily
true. I know that if the piece absorbs water due to a porous body
or
small fractures in the glaze which hold water it will get extremely
hot in the microwave.

Anyway, if you know something specific about the clay makeup to
cause heat in teh ceramic container in the microwave I
would like to know. I will certainly give you credit in CM. I'm off
to call the engineers here at the university and see what they
know.

You may E-mail me directly at
WBAKER@WOODSQUAD.AS.UA.EDU, send the
answer to the list or send it directly to Ruth Butler at CM.

Lowell Baker
The University of Alabama