Ceramic Bisque Firing Temperatures

Gently heating a kiln and its contents above room temperature but below the boiling temperature of water.

Ceramic bisque firing temperatures.

In low fire the bisque temperature is usually hotter than the firing temperature. Firing clay from mud to ceramic. Generally bisque firing is done between cone 08 and cone 04 no matter what the maturation temperature of the clay and of the glazes that will be used later. The porous nature of bisque earthenware means that it readily absorbs water.

It is done to vitrify which means to turn it glasslike to a point that the pottery can have a glaze adhere to the surface. For example most commercial glazes recommend bisque firing to cone 04 and glaze firing to cone 06 which is cooler. Very low fired overglazes and lusters are then applied to the already fired primary glaze. To start it must be bone dry.

The first firing of ceramic ware to make it strong enough to handle conveniently. It is bisque fired and then glaze fired. Firing converts ceramic work from weak clay into a strong durable crystalline glasslike form. Bisque firing refers to the first time newly shaped clay pots or greenware go through high temperature heating.

Ceramic work is typically fired twice. At the same time the clay body still is quite porous and absorbent. Bisque or biscuit firing. The reason for this is to make sure all the carbon and other materials in the clay burn out during the bisque firing.

Different clays do respond differently to the same bisque firing conditions. Raku clay is usually bisque fired to cone 04 to 1 clays that are to have crystalline glazes should be bisque fired slightly higher than normal i e. What temperature should a bisque firing go to. Mid fire earthenware should be fired between cone 2 and cone 7.

The ware will often not only go through a bisque firing but also a higher temperature glaze firing. For mid range material a kiln should be firing at a temperature between 2124 and 2264 1162 1240. The ware is returned to the kiln for a very low temperature firing in order to fuse the overglazes. Low fire white terra cotta is generally bisque fired at cone 02 to 1.

For example a cone 10 clay bisque fired at cone 04 will be more porous than a cone 2 clay. The goal of bisque firing is to convert greenware to a durable semi vitrified porous stage where it can be safely handled during the glazing and decorating process. You can test out what bisque firing temperature works best for the clay and glaze combination you are using. Mostly yellow with a hint of orange.

Bisque also refers to ceramic that has been fired but not yet glazed. A body clay with underglaze can be bisque fired at cone 4 to 6 then have a low fire glaze firing at cone 06 to 04. By cone 08 the ware is sintered and has become a ceramic material.