Clay

Clay is a very fine mineral mixture composed of a variety of hydroxide minerals. These hydroxides can be fired to produce ceramic materials.

Uses

Primary

• Production of ceramics

Secondary

• As a solid substrate for reacting solid materials (used when other more common solvents like water are impractical)

Natural occurrence

• Clay occurs naturally

Components

Primary

• The silicon component is most often kaolinite
• The aluminum component is most often bauxite

Trace

• Iron as goethite
• Magnesium as brucite or as the -carbonate.
• Calcium, Sodium, and Potassium can be present as -carbonates.

Types

Pottery

Pottery clay is primarily kaolinite

Brick

Brick clay contains kaolinite, mullite and silicon dioxide

Firebrick

Fire clay contains kaolinite and bauxite with some mullite and aluminum oxide

See Also

• Earth