Ceramic Clay: Meaning, Preparation and Methods of Production

Abstract

Clay is a chief material used in ceramic production and as well the backbone of ceramic art. It is an abundant natural material that is found all around us, in gardens, fields, along riverbanks or roadsides which originated from feldspathic rock. Clay according to Igbinedion (1995) is a natural material found in the earth’s crust or rock and it is characterized by plasticity when the appropriate amount of water is added. It can be defined as a heavy, damp, plastic material that sets upon drying and can be changed by heat into a hard, waterproof material. Clay can also be seen as an earthy raw material known for its sticky plastic nature. It is an earthy material that is soft and plastic when wet and very hard and rocklike when fired. It contains alumina, silica and water. However, clay is classified into two types; they are primary and secondary.