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hpm20 bentonite vs. hecktalite

updated sun 28 feb 99

 

Tony Hansen on sat 27 feb 99

We have been using HPM20 MicroFine bentonite for some time and
lately have been testing Hecktalite (spelling?) as a substitute.
The former fires dark brown and the latter pure white. They are
about the same plasticity (we mix silica and bentonite to produce
a plastic mix for making shrinkage bars). They have about the
same influence on the plasticity of a body (if anything the
Hecktalite is less plastic). The Hecktalite is twice the price.
When a body employs 1-2% bentonite it is very difficult to see
a difference in fired color between the two even though the
regular bentonite has so much more iron.

I was always led to believe that Hecktalive has compelling
advanges, but I can't see them unless a body had 5% bentonite.
But who could afford it. Anyone have a comment?
----
T o n y H a n s e n thansen@digitalfire.com
Don't fight the dragon alone http://digitalfire.com
Calculation/Database Software for Ceramic Industry