ball clay

noun

, Ceramics.

1. a fine dark kaolinic clay that turns white or nearly white when fired, used in the manufacture of a wide variety of ceramic wares in combination with other clays for its exceptional bonding properties and plasticity.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ball clay¹

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

The respective quantities in which they are used vary in each manufactory, but the principle is always the same: the ball clay being the foundation, and flint the whitening material; but as an excess of this would make the body difficult to work, Cornish clay assists in making it whiter and less liable to break under a heavy weight or sudden changes of temperature.

From Project Gutenberg

For earthenware or china, the English potters use only two sorts of clays: the ball clay, also called blue clay, and the kaolin.

From Project Gutenberg

The ball clay, exported from Teignmouth and Poole, comes from the lower tertiary clays of Devon and Dorset, and is remarkably good and plastic, the quantity of iron being comparatively very small.

From Project Gutenberg

The ball clay from Poole is dug in the neighbourhood of Wareham, by Mr. Pike.

From Project Gutenberg

In that state it is very white, and although not so plastic as the ball clay, contains a little more alumina and less iron, which accounts for its resisting much better the action of fire.

From Project Gutenberg