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Clay - Air Clay
| | Quality Control
Walker Ceramics
pride ourselves on the
quality of our products and after sales service. We provide full
technical backup and we are happy to assist clients to develop products to their
specific requirements. All of our Products are tested in our laboratory prior to
release for sale.
TESTING PROCEDURES
We use the following procedures to maintain our
high standards.
Test Room: Batches of clay
and glaze are routinely tested thoroughly before distribution.
Dilatometer: The expansion of
the body or glaze is automatically graphed whilst the sample is heated at a set
rate. The samples are small bars which have been pre-fired to the recommended
firing temperature. This test confirms clay/glaze fit.
Moisture Content Tester: To
rapidly determine the percentage of moisture content of a material.
Gallenkamp Torsion Viscometer: To
test the fluidity and thixotropy of slips. This is a very important test to
ensure the slips will pour, cast and drain well.
Gradient Furnace: This is to
test bodies and glazes over a temperature range to a maximum of 1325°C in the
one firing. It is automatically controlled for rate of temperature rise and
soaking time. The kiln fires 10 separate samples at about 30°C temperature
difference between each, thereby we have an accurate firing history of water
absorption, shrinkage and colour over a 300°C range to the bodies maximum
temperature. The test samples are then compared to our standard results.
Other
equipment includes an Automatic Drier, Ford Cup and Walker Fluidity Cylinders,
Ball Mills, High Speed Rapido Mills, High Speed Shear Agitators, Sieve Testing Screens and three Test
Kilns; one for high speed firing, one Electric Kiln for normal firing and a Gas Reduction Kiln. Standards of all clays, glazes,
colours and raw materials
are kept for reference. An important part of the daily program of Geoffrey and
David Walker (pictured in the test room) is time spent in research and
development.
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