search  current discussion  categories  kilns & firing - salt & soda 

rock salt in sweeping compound

updated sun 14 feb 99

 

Mary Ella Yamashita on sat 13 feb 99

In response to the inquiry about the function of salt in the Rodale's
sweeping compound (6 C sawdust, 2 C rock salt, 1 1/2 C mineral oil)--I have
been told that the salt is a substrate containing positive and negative
ions which attracts dust to the oil/sawdust mixture (this info is from a
chemist friend).

For those of you like me who are grappling with the chemistry of our clay
habit, my dictionary defines "substrate"as an underlying structure or
foundation.

Hope this clarifies more than it confuses--mey