Firing Cycle Overview
|
|
Temperature
|
Event |
| 95-200° F
(35-95° C) |
Decal becomes thermoplastic, conforming to the micro structure of the glaze. |
212° F
(100° C) |
Any water under the decal boils off (18g of liquid water will expand to 22.4 Liters of water vapor) this phase transition is the major cause of pinholes or blowouts seen in fired decals. |
|
480-750° F
(250-400° C)
|
Organic covercoat and printing mediums burn off. Ventilation is very important through this temperature range to insure the organics are removed from within the kiln atmosphere. |
|
750-1050° F
(400-565° C)
|
Nothing happens, but air turbulence must be limited because only pigment and flux powders remain on the surface of the glaze. |
|
1050° F +
(565° C +)
|
Vitrification begins. Fluxes begin to transition into a glassy phase as they melt. Glass decals are manufactured with low temperature fluxes that begin this transition much earlier than onglaze and inglaze ceramic decals. |
|
