Hey there, young potter! Let’s dive into something cool about pottery and temperature that happens while making awesome ceramic pieces.
When we talk about the carbon burnout stage, we’re discussing a special phase when the kiln (that’s like an oven just for pottery) heats up to 800°C. This is super important because it helps the clay get rid of any leftover bits of carbon. Carbon is sometimes trapped inside the clay from materials we use, and getting rid of it is essential to ensure our pottery can be strong and last a long time.
Now, to understand what 800°C means in terms we are more familiar with, we can convert it to Fahrenheit! The formula to do this is:
$$
°F = (°C \times 9/5) + 32
$$
So if we plug in 800°C, we get:
$$
°F = (800 \times 9/5) + 32 = 1472°F
$$
That means when we heat our kiln to 800°C, it’s really getting up to 1472°F! This is super hot, and it’s just right for creating amazing pottery pieces without any pesky carbon left.
To give you an idea of just how hot that really is, here are 7 objects that are exactly equal to 800°C (or 1472°F):
- a glowing metal rod in a blacksmith’s forge
- a volcanic lava flow at its hottest point
- the flame of a blowtorch
- molten glass during glass-making
- the inside of a pizza oven when it’s at the right cooking temperature
- the temperature of an electric arc in welding
- a well-heated piece of charcoal being used for barbecuing
So remember, the process of heating your pottery to 800°C is crucial for making safe and strong items. Keep experimenting with your awesome creations!
