Christopher J. Anton on fri 2 apr 99
Cones and pyrometers each have their function. Neither is an adequate
substitute for the other.
Pyrometers measure temperature, nothing else. Cones, while rated for
temperature ranges, do not measure temperature, but guage heat energy
absorbtion. One of the reasons that cones are shaped as cones and not as
cylinders, is that one can use them to estimate vitrification for different
thicknesses. If, for example, you are for some reason firing a delicate set=
of
pieces with 1/8=22 thick walls using a clay body that matures at cone 10, =
then
when the 1/8=22 thick portion of the cone is tilting over, the firing has =
probably
reached maturity. This will happen when the cone has absorbed enough energy=
to
cause the change, whether or not a particular temperature is indicated on =
the
pyrometer.
Energy absorbtion is affected not only by temperature, but by time. More =
time
at a lower temperature can yeild the same cone results as less time at a =
higher
temperature.
Hope this helps -
Chris
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