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34 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
University of the West of England, Bristol
3D printing of self-glazing ceramic materials: An investigation inspired by ancient Egyptian technology
This paper was delivered at the Nip29: Digital Fabrication 2013 conference in Seattle (29 September-3 October). It details the first year’s findings of a three year project to investigate 3D printed self-glazing ceramics and the viability of applying Ancient Egyptian glazing techniques to modern 3D printing to develop a new type of ceramic material which has great potential for contemporary craft practitioners. It demonstrated for the first time, that it is possible to 3D print an actual object in a ceramic material which can be glazed and vitrified in one firing, thereby opening up the area of self-glazing ceramics.
Ancient Egyptian Faience, made from quartz and alkali fluxes, is versatile, with a highly coloured lustred glaze which has desirable visual qualities. Using ancient recipes, but modern materials and firing techniques, enables a wider colour palette and more consistent and reproducible results. Ancient recipes were trialled to determine the best composition of ceramic powders and silica, dry mixed with anhydrous soluble salts and various ceramic stains to replicate traditional colours. Optimum drying conditions and the ideal firing regime and temperature were also investigated.
A figurine of a hippopotamus was produced, using an inexpensive web-based 3D capture system to produce more affordable 3D CAD files. The previous tests had determined that the best base material for the process was the 3D printable ceramic body developed by CFPR. Two firings, using an external slip glaze, were necessary, because the amount of water required in the Faience body mix to generate soluble salt transfer caused shifting during printing. However, in a further breakthrough, by increasing the liquid binder saturation level, 3D printed sample tiles which effloresce on drying and will self-glaze with a single firing have been produced.
The article was published in NIP29: Technical Program and Proceedings (2013).
