Frits
Frits are finely powdered, pre-melted ceramic materials that offer control in glaze and clay formulations. Fritting involves the melting together of glaze materials, some of which are body-soluble, to produce a relatively insoluble combination. Frits are essential to ceramics, and are designed to stabilise oxides, lower melting temperatures, and enhance the properties of glaze surfaces. At Potclays, we stock a versatile range of frits, including alkaline, borate and lead bisilicate types, each selected for safe, consistent and colourful results.
What Are Frits and How Are They Used in Pottery and Ceramics?
Before handling frits, please refer to our technical information sheet - "Safe Handling of Powdered Ceramic Materials".
Frits are materials that have been melted and ground into a fine powder, making them easier to control than unprocessed raw ingredients. They are used in pottery, ceramics, and the development of glazes, allowing potters to create specific characteristics in glaze, from matte to glossy or opaque.
Unlike raw materials like borax or soda ash, fritted glazes offer reduced solubility, helping to avoid issues like glaze separation. When creating underglazes or even functional wares, frits help to provide more technical and creative freedom. The final result produces a glaze that binds well with clay bodies and helps deliver a flawless fired kiln finish.
What Varieties of Frits Exist?
A wide variety of frits exist, and each one provides different benefits and designs. Alkaline frits, for example, are known for their ability to brighten colours, making them popular in decorative ceramics. They can produce a beautiful crackle blue when copper oxide is added. Calcium borate frits help glazes to achieve a smooth surface, while low-expansion frits help with the compatibility between glazes and the clay body.
Soda frits, standard borax frits, and lead bisilicate frits are often used to help control viscosity, opacity, and melting temperature and are utilised in both traditional and experimental projects. Lead Bisilicate is the frit generally used in low-solubility glazes, and Standard Borax Frit for unleaded glazes.
All frits stocked by Potclays are suitable for use in studio, production, and educational settings, whether you're working with stoneware, porcelain, or earthenware. Our selection of frits is designed to elevate your glaze work to new levels.
Please note that any lead-based frit should not be used in stoneware glazes due to the high firing temperatures, which can pose health and safety risks. Most frits, with the exception of lead-based ones, can be used in stoneware glazes since the typical % addition would be less than 70%, quite often around 10-20%. Please contact us for typical analysis data if required.
Why Choose Potclays?
At Potclays, we're proud to be a one-stop shop for all things pottery. With over 90 years of experience in the world of pottery, we've utilised our expertise to curate a wide range of products to benefit your process. Find tools and accessories, kilns, raw materials, and clay, as well as much more, available online.
Not sure where to begin with frit selection, or looking to expand your potter's supplies? Get in touch with us, we're happy to help with any questions or bespoke requirements.
