Michael Banks on fri 14 apr 00
Charles,
Magnesium oxide (magnesia) is fairly innocuous compared to quicklime
(calcium oxide). Magnesia is quite mild stuff, only sparingly soluble in
water, forming magnesium hydroxide solution. This stuff is quaffed by
people as a stomach anti-acid and laxative, so can't be too caustic. Should
be fine in a glaze, but will act as a flocculant -which many potters want
anyway, saving having to add Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate).
Magnesia if left exposed to the air for a long time gradually reacts with
atmospheric carbon dioxide to form magnesium carbonate (magnesite). I used
to run into a lot of this stuff, white and very light in weight, prospecting
in the desert in Australia. Great slabs of it, resulting from the
weathering of magnesium-rich rock.
Michael Banks,
Nelson,
New Zealand
Charles G Hughes wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Ok here is a question for you along the same lines. I have a lot of
> Magnesium Oxide. Can I use this in a glaze, or is it somehow soluble and
> dangerous the way Calcium Oxide is?
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