Crisis Averted

Thrown Vessels with Floating Blue Glaze

Storage flask (none): H: 4.75” D: 3.5” | Round bottom flask (Gillespie): H: 4.75” D: 4” | Beaker (Gerstley): H: 5” D: 4” | Bunsen burner flask (3124): H: 3.25” D: 4” | Erlenmeyer flask (3134) H: 5” D: 4” | Volumetric flask (3195): H: 6.5” D: 4”

Gerstley Borate is an important flux in the field of ceramic glazes at mid-fire temperatures. It forms the foundation of many glazes in this firing temperature by supplying boron in the glaze. The crisis the ceramics world is facing is that the supply of Gerstley borate is rapidly depleting. Originally mined from Gerstley mines in California, the supply was stable until 2000 when the mine was depleted. a few years later, a stockpile was found and processed and has been our supply since around 2011. But that stockpile is running out and when its gone, Gerstley borate will cease to exist. In this project, I tested 5 other boron containing materials to see their 1 to1 replicability of the effects Gerstley Borate produces. I tested Gillespie borate, which is the closest replacement currently on the market, and Ferro frits 3124, 3134, and 3195. I also tested the glaze with no additional boron suppliers as a control. I can conclusively say that Gillepsie borate is the best out of all of the options and even performs better in some cases than Gerstley Borate.