Basic Materials

What are Ceramic Raw Materials for?

Ceramic raw materials are the foundation of all pottery and ceramic production. Our range includes everything from ball clay, alumina hydrate, china clay (kaolin) and bentonite, to feldspar, silica, barium carbonate and titanium dioxide. These materials are blended and refined to create the precise working properties and firing results needed for your craft, whether that's porcelain, stoneware, earthenware or raku. 

As an example, ball clays enhance plasticity and workability in clay bodies, while silica and alumina influence the strength of projects. Borates and carbonates act as fluxes, helping glazes melt and adhere to the surface. Materials like zircon are used to increase opacity, while oxides like copper provide rich colour and character.

Our carefully sourced oxides and basic materials support potters, schools and studios in creating custom bodies and glazes with reliable, consistent performance. 

See our Technical Information Sheet "Safe Handling of Powdered Ceramic Materials"

The Benefits of Ceramic Raw Materials

By choosing high-quality ceramic materials, potters can enjoy greater control and creativity in their process. Whether a studio potter perfecting your own glaze recipe, an industrial ceramicist producing consistent ware or a hobbyist looking to reduce project shrinkage, our raw materials offer precision and consistency every time.

These raw materials are also versatile and able to be blended into bodies, slips, frits or glazes across multiple temperature ranges. The versatility allows for advanced customisation, allowing users to combine materials like dolomite or magnesium carbonate to adjust texture or colour response.

Every raw material we supply is labelled with its chemical composition and handling information, helping you to design, mix and test with confidence. They are trusted by professional potters, educators and manufacturers across ceramics.

Why Choose Potclays?

With over 90 years of expertise, Potclays has been a trusted supplier of raw materials for ceramics, tools and accessories, kilns, kiln furniture, and more to the UK's ceramic community. We're proud to support potters of all skill levels, offering bulk and small quantity options to suit every need.

Our in-house team combines technical knowledge with a passion for ceramics, ensuring that you'll always receive reliable advice alongside premium materials. Need help selecting the right powdered materials? Get in touch with us today.