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The magical transformation of ceramics: How to make pottery impermeable?
The creation process of ceramics is a highly artistic and scientific operation, and one of the key steps is "vitrification". This change resulted in terracotta works no longer suffering from water penetration and gaining popularity in the market for their beautiful and durable properties.
Vitrification is the complete or partial transformation of a substance into glass, an amorphous solid, which makes pottery waterproof in use.
In ceramic making, vitrification is usually achieved by heating the raw material to liquefy it and then cooling it rapidly, allowing it to go through the glass transition process to form a glass-like solid. This process involves not only physical changes but also chemical reactions that allow the porcelain to achieve its ideal material properties after being fired at high temperatures.
What is vitrification?
From a chemical perspective, vitrification is an important feature in disordered systems. This change occurs when the connections between tiny elementary particles, such as atoms or molecules, exceed a certain threshold. As a result, the vitrification process of the pottery shows a tighter structure, making the final pottery impermeable.
After vitrification treatment of ceramics, the surface porosity can be significantly reduced, thereby achieving zero moisture absorption. In particular, some porcelain can achieve impermeability even without glaze.
Familiar applications
The application areas of vitrification are not limited to ceramics. For example, when sucrose is cooled quickly, marshmallows form, while cooling slowly produces crystallized sugar. Similarly, the vitrification of water may result in rapid cooling without the formation of ice crystals, as opposed to the way ice crystals are formed in conventional freezing. The application of this technology has achieved a breakthrough in electron microscopy technology, allowing fragile biological samples to avoid damage during the imaging process.
Safe disposal of nuclear waste
In the treatment of nuclear waste, vitrification technology is widely used. By mixing waste with glass materials, a stable solid state is formed, which can effectively prevent the release of harmful substances. According to the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, "Vitrification locks hazardous materials into a stable form of glass that can last for thousands of years." Continued development of this technology makes modern long-term storage of nuclear waste possible. More safe and reliable.
The miracle of frozen preservation
In biology, cryopreservation technology also borrows the concept of vitrification. For example, during the cryopreservation of human eggs (oocytes), vitrification technology prevents the formation of ice crystals, thus maintaining the cellular structure and function of the cells. The rapid application of this technology shows the important role of vitrification technology in modern science.
Many plants growing in the polar regions can naturally vitrify their cells to survive in cold environments.
Challenges in Ceramic Making
In the ceramic manufacturing process, in addition to vitrification, other factors such as the use of glaze and the choice of clay also affect the waterproof function of pottery. Typical works such as porcelain, bone china and sanitary pottery are manufactured using different methods, and most can be made impermeable without glaze. Stoneware is divided into fully vitrified and semi-vitrified. The semi-vitrified type usually needs to be glazed to achieve a water-tight state.
Future development and research
With the development of technology, future ceramic materials may have more significant changes in structure and function. Among various researches, whether it is the new development of ceramics or the improvement of existing vitrification technology, it is exciting to look forward to it. Ceramics are not only an indispensable item in life, but also an evolving art form.
How will these fascinating technologies affect our lives and inspire more creative thinking?
