Reducing in an Electric Kiln


Avoid premature kiln ageing

Many potters, ceramic artists and hobbyists have electric kilns, but not gas or woodfiring kilns at their disposal. This poses a problem if you want to create reduction glazes such as copper reds or celadons. These glazes require a reduction atmosphere, where the kiln is starved of oxygen. Free carbon in the form of carbon monoxide is formed. (This is also why reduction firings should be done in very well ventilated areas. See the Toxic Materials Database for more info.) This is normally done by reducing the flow of fresh air to the kin interior, by closing off the flue (chimney). The oxygen inside the kiln is quickly used up by the combustible fuel (wood, gas or oil) and different chemical reactions take place than in an oxidizing atmosphere.

Copper RedIn the reducing atmosphere, copper forms metallic copper instead of copper oxide. It is this metallic copper that gives copper red glazes their distinct color. Iron forms iron oxide (FeO2) in oxidation, but in reduction, ferrous iron (FeO) is produced, with its bluish, green or black hues.

Reducing electric kilns is a problem. It is possible to throw in combustible materials through spy holes, but this is difficult. More importantly, the carbon tends to aggressively attack the kiln elements (heating coils), considerably shortening their life through corrosion. If creating a reducing atmosphere in an electric kiln is so damaging, what is the solution? There are two answers to this.

  1. Artificial Reduction
    In artificial reduction, a reducing agent is introduced into the glaze itself. This is usually silicon carbide (SiC). Silicon carbide has a strong reducing effect on the other glaze materials. 1.5 – 2 percent should be enough to create the desired effects. The finest available grade (300 mesh or finer) should be used, so the material disperses as evenly as possible in the glaze, otherwise specks may appear. Sometimes bubbling of the glaze may occur (similar to a crater glaze), then soaking at top temperature is recommended.
  2. Saggars
    Saggar fired test tileYou can make your own special custom containers or lidded boxes in which you put your pottery along with some combustible material like coal or moth balls. When the organic material burns, it creates a localized reduction atmosphere inside the box. You need to work out the amount – too much will cause blackening through carbon trapping, too little and there won’t be sufficient reduction effects. Above left: Saggar fired test tile with reduced cone 6 copper red glaze.local oxidationYou might think that oxygen will enter the container from the outside, but that isn’t the case. Oxidation and reduction remain localized. This is also an effect that can sometimes be seen even in a wood or gas kiln, where there may be areas of local oxidation, despite an overall reduction atmosphere (see image).

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