ball clay

American  

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.

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Etymology

Origin of ball clay

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

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 British Manufacturing Industries Pottery, Glass and Silicates, Furniture and Woodwork. by Arnoux, L.

The ball clay, as the former is called, may be of any color common to soils, not necessarily yellow or reddish as is sometimes supposed.

From American Rural Highways by Agg, T. R. (Thomas Radford)

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 British Manufacturing Industries Pottery, Glass and Silicates, Furniture and Woodwork. by Arnoux, L.

Generally speaking, kaolin, China clay, ball clay, pipe clay, China stone, felspar, flint, quartz, sand, lime, chalk, and calcined bone are the ingredients of most modern pastes.

From Pottery, for Artists Craftsmen & Teachers by Cox, George J.

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

From British Manufacturing Industries Pottery, Glass and Silicates, Furniture and Woodwork. by Arnoux, L.