Plainsman Clays | POLARICE
Polar Ice Mid Fire Porcelain
$0
Suggested retail price. In-store prices and availability may vary by location.
Mid fired, Super white, Translucent, High plasticity, Vitreous, Porcelain, Throwing clay body
Specifications
Type
Mid temperature porcelain · super white · translucent · vitreous · throwing body
Texture
Smooth and dense, with high plasticity
Usage
Throwing · slip casting · translucent functional and decorative porcelain
Temperature
Cone 5 · 6 · 7 – like all of our medium temperature clay bodies, Polar Ice is designed to fire at cone 6 oxidation (1222 °C / 2232 °F). It also fires successfully from cone 4 to cone 8 in oxidation, and at cone 10 reduction.
Colour
Super white and translucent · translucency is at its highest at cone 6
Shrinkage
Dry 5.5–6.5% · fired 9.1–9.5% at cone 5, 9.5–9.7% at cone 6, 9.5–9.8% at cone 7
Absorption
0% at cone 5, cone 6 and cone 7
Every figure is a measured range from the Plainsman lab, not a single nominal number. Cone equivalents are Orton self-supporting cones at 108 °F/hr.
Polar Ice is also made as a casting slip. The figures on this page are measured on the plastic body – we do not make test bars from the casting recipe – but the two behave similarly.
Description
Polar Ice is the whitest and most translucent porcelain we make. Translucency is at its highest at cone 6, and the body is fully vitreous – 0% absorption – across cone 5 to 7.
It asks for more care and skill on the wheel than our other bodies. Polar Ice arrives quite firm and becomes increasingly supple as it is wedged, and its plasticity is at its best while the clay remains firm – so thorough preparation is what makes it throw well.
Fired shrinkage is high, 9.5–9.7% at cone 6, so allow for movement on the shelf.
Working properties
- Polar Ice arrives quite firm, then becomes increasingly supple as you wedge it. Wedge thoroughly and repeatedly until it reaches an ideal throwing consistency. Its plasticity is at its best while the clay remains firm, so a little extra preparation pays off beautifully at the wheel.
- Like all porcelains, Polar Ice rewards careful, even drying. Keep wall thickness even, contours smooth, moisture consistent throughout the piece, and joins to a minimum for the best results.
- Large, flat plates need the most patience and may take a month or longer to dry. Keep them covered with cloth and plastic throughout the process, changing the cloth every few days for slow, even drying.
Fired colour & cone behaviour
- Exceptionally white with beautiful translucency, reaching its greatest translucency at cone 6.
- Polar Ice is fully vitreous throughout its range, with 0% absorption at cones 5, 6 and 7. It also fires successfully from cone 4 to cone 8 in oxidation and at cone 10 in reduction, offering impressive firing versatility.
- Bisque fire to cone 06 or above.
- Fired shrinkage is 9.5–9.7% at cone 6. Because pieces need room to move as they shrink, kiln-wash your shelves for a smooth firing process.
Glazes & glaze fit
- Polar Ice’s brilliant white surface makes transparent glazes especially luminous – and reveals every detail beneath them. Keep your clay and studio clean, as tiny specks that may disappear on stoneware can remain visible here.
- Always test your glaze for crazing before committing to a full piece. For functional ware, confirm glaze fit with a boiling-water-to-ice-water immersion test.
- For food-contact surfaces, finish with a transparent or white liner glaze.
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