Lustre effects on ceramic surfaces by sprying and fuming methods

Luster is a golden, coppery or iridescent thin metallic film which occur with nano sized metal particles embedded on a glassy surface. This technique was first used during the 9th century AD to decorate pottery in Mesopotamia and reached to its hill during the Seljuk period. After spreading in Europe in the 13th century, the 18th century also had a decadence period. It began to revive in Europe in the late 19th century. The fuming luster, which is the basis of this thesis, has been started to be used on ceramics since the 20th century (usually with salt firing technique). Like all methodes of luster technique, Spray and fumed lusters, are expected to create an iridescent effect on the glazed surface. In these methods, glazed ceramics, after glaze firing while cooling or when they reheated at about 650-750 ° C, are fumed or sprayed in kiln atmosphere with metal compounds that can occure luster effects. Despite the different visual results obtained by spraying or evaporation methods, in this thesis study both methods are classified in the same group because there are many common points in their application process. With partial information obtained about these methods, results of experimental studies and due to the successful visual effects decided to focused on the spraying method fort the rest of experiments. Experiments were carried out on different variables with the purpose of observing the luster effects caused by the spraying method. Variable factors in these experiments were; the metal compounds which used, glaze, clay, application temperature, application method and firing atmosphere. As a result of experimental studies, with strong luster effects obtained from Iron (III) chloride the scope of experiments has been limited on this metal compound. In this thesis study, successful luster effects were obtained by spraying method on diffrent kinds of glazes matured between 980-1080 ° C, like transparent glazes, colored glazes and glazes with decorative effects. It has been determined that this technique can be used on various glazes and with other techniques in a controlled manner.