Lili Krakowski on mon 3 mar 08
Lithium is "the third" alkaline flux. It has the advantage that it comes in
a water insoluble form, hence can be used "easily", which potash and soda
cannot. On the other hand lithium can present a serious danger to those who
take it as a medication, and it is my strong opinion it should not be in the
casual pottery studio. Lithium also is found in several feldspars. To what
extent it provides "better" color than potash and soda will be told you by
others...I do not use it.
Calcium is the maid of all work of fluxes. Good grief! Calcium works for
low wages, at all temperatures, it is perfectly willing to
get up at 2:00 AM to make breakfast and pack lunch for those catching an
early train, and calcium will have supper on the table when they get home at
1:00 AM. Calcium takes messages, and works her considerable butt off.
Calcium however is not smart and dramatic, calcium is not particularly
bright. Just wonderfully trustworthy and reliable.
Strontium is a Russian émigré. Good manners well above the average, if a
bit eccentric. She is a bit snooty, and not cheap. (What can I say?) Now
strontium was ignored --as an outsider--in part because she refused to
answer the phone--one either has a maid like Calcium to do it, or one does
not have a phone--but when her sister Barium got into trouble suddenly
Strontium became oh so popular, despite the cost. I discovered Strontium
years ago when I read in Robin Hopper's "Ceramic Spectrum" that
strontium--which all the books I had linked with calcium--actually worked
like Barium. I tested and indeed strontium gives barium blues, as I wrote
to CM at the time. Steve Slatin told me that in Russian "literature" (yes,
I mean clay literature, not Tolstoy!) strontium long had been recognized as
"like" barium.
Now you see, you will giggle, and all the "higher ups" on the Science Scale
will frown--but you always will remember these differences, while an
explanation with melting points and molecules will not be as clear.
Go get a good book like Fraser's Glazes for the Craft Potter. Not costly,
excellent reference.
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
Nathan Gartz on tue 4 mar 08
On Mon, 3 Mar 2008 08:28:04 -0500, Lili Krakowski
wrote:
>[lithium] can be used "easily", which potash and soda
>cannot.
Hi Lili,
I am looking to substitute Soda Ash with a water insoluble chemical like
Lithium. I have Lithium Carb and Lithium Fluoride. Would either suffice to
make a good substitute as far as a similar chemical like Soda Ash but a
water insoluble one as well. I'm a rook at this stuff so your help is much
appreciated!
Thanks,
Nathan
Nathan Gartz
web: nathangartz.com
email: nathan.gartz (at) gmail.com
Ivor and Olive Lewis on tue 4 mar 08
Dear Lili Krakowski,=20
And I always thought Strontium was a Scottish Laird from the Western =
Highlands.
All the best,
Ivor Lewis.
Redhill,
South Australia.
Ivor and Olive Lewis on wed 5 mar 08
Lithium fluoride has a solubility that equates to about one tenth of =
that of Lithium Carbonate. However, remember that Sodium Chloride reacts =
with clay in the kiln and is known to discharge Chlorine. If the same =
pattern of chemistry is followed by Lithium Fluoride, then you may be =
releasing Fluorine, a rather toxic gas, into your environment.
I am wondering where this notion that Lithium Carbonate is water =
insoluble comes from. Tables of chemical reagents and their properties =
tell us that Lithium Carbonate is Slightly soluble in Water. Frank Hamer =
supports that view.
As I interpret the values given in Kaye and Laby, Lithium Carbonate has =
a solubility in water at 0 deg C which is about one fifth of the =
solubility of Sodium Carbonate. Potassium carbonate appears to be twenty =
times more soluble than Sodium Carbonate.
.
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis.
Redhill,
South Australia.
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