Slip casting, or slipcasting, is a ceramic forming technique, and is widely used for shapes that can not easily be formed by other techniques. The technique involves a clay body slip, usually prepared in a blunger, being poured into plaster moulds and allowed to form a layer, the cast, on the internal walls of the mould.
It is suited for the consistent and precise shaping of complex shapes. It is the standard shaping technique for sanitaryware, such as toilets and basins, and is commonly used for smaller pieces like figurines and teapots.
History
The technique was first developed in China during the Tang dynasty (618–917), but was relatively little used in China until recent times. It seems to have been reinvented independently in England around 1745 "reputedly by Ralph Daniels of Corbridge", and before long was widely used by European porcelain manufacturers, and then becoming the main forming technique for sanitaryware by the end of the century.
Technical considerations
Solid casting is used to produce solid articles, such as cup handles; for this the mould frequently includes a reservoir of excess slip. Hollow casting is used to produce articles such as teapots.
The properties of a casting slip depends on multiple factors, including: The properties of each raw material in the slip. The solids content of the slip. The clay:non-plastic ratio in the slip. The chemicals in the slip, either deliberately added or introduced from the raw materials and water. The type and amount of deflocculant. The ambient conditions, especially temperature and humidity. The amount of energy involved in mixing the raw materials to prepare the slip.
Additionally, factors affecting the rate of formation of the cast piece include: The viscosity and thixotropy of the slip, which are invariably modified immediately before casting. Properties of the mould material, such as permeability. Moisture content of the mould.
The casting slip is poured into a porous mould. Due to capillary pressure from the mould, a semi-solid particulate layer is formed on the mould through deposition of the solids in the slip. After a period of time, determined in advance by testing, the cast piece is removed from the mould; the cast needs to be sufficiently firm to handle without losing its damage. The cast piece may then fettled to remove the mould seam, before being dried to remove the remaining water. This results in a greenware piece which is then ready to be decorated, glazed and fired in a kiln.
Casting times
A lavatory closet typically takes around 40 to 60 minutes to cast using the conventional technique, with a Swiss manufacturing noting that 'preparing the mould and casting a single piece can take up to 40 minutes.' Thinner sections will be quicker, with one source advising 5-10 mm taking 10-15 minutes.
Casting times for ceramic tableware have been reported as 35 to 60 minutes for earthenware and 8 to 20 minutes for bone china. Other reports include: 30–50 minutes at a US studio pottery; around 60 minutes at a small Portuguese manufacturer of decorative ceramics; 'approximately 15 minutes' from a US distance learning university; in an article for studio potters, the author advises of 15–20 minutes; and 15–45 minutes in a guide for beginners.
Casting times are notably shorter by pressure casting, with 2 minutes reported for tableware bowls and dishes, and 6–8 minutes for sanitaryware. The cycle time per piece of sanitaryware using high-pressure at Duravit is reported to be 20 minutes.
Solids content of the slip
To achieve an acceptable rate of cast formation and minimise drying shrinkage a slip with a high content of solids is needed. The generally accepted solids content of a Vitreous China sanitaryware casting slip ranges between 72 and 75% by weight, which corresponds to slip densities of 1.80–1.85 g/cm3.
Certain chemicals, known as deflocculants, are used to disperse agglomerates in the slip, and so decrease the viscosity and also allow a higher solids content; the latter is important to minimise drying shrinkage. Examples of deflocculants include sodium carbonate and sodium silicate. Typical deflocculant additions used for a Vitreous China casting slip are 0.1-0.65%; the rheological properties of the clay components are the main influencing factors for the dosage.
A mathematical formula developed by Alexandre Brongniart of
Sèvres Porcelain is used to determine the dry material content of the slip. This has become to be known as Brongniart's formula.