The difference between pottery and porcelain
When talking about ceramics and pottery, it must be noted that they differ in several ways. Porcelain is a material that is often harder and softer due to the way it is fired at high temperatures.
This makes it more water-resistant. Pottery has a rougher texture and may be more porous, meaning it can absorb liquids if not treated in a certain way.
1-Transparency: Porcelain materials are semi-transparent and may allow light to pass through them, making them shine and look more attractive.
As for pottery, it is a dense material that does not allow light to pass through it, which gives it a distinctive and solid appearance.
2-Cost: Pottery is less expensive than ceramics, mainly because lower temperatures are used in the firing process.
These lower grades do not result in a material as dense as porcelain, making pottery less durable and hard than porcelain.
3-Ingredients: Porcelain is made from a fine material known as kaolin, with other ingredients such as bone ash and feldspar added to enhance its quality. Porcelain is characterized by its ability to transmit light, which indicates its high durability compared to pottery.
It is mainly used in the manufacture of fine artistic pieces, such as high-quality tea cups and jewelry trays, because of its strength and flexibility, which exceeds pottery.
Porcelain comes in many variations in shapes and sizes, and retains a greater amount of air bubbles than pottery, making it a preferred choice in many practical and artistic applications.
4-Dough: In China, the manufacture of porcelain began using certain materials that contributed to the development of this craft, while in Europe, a different type of porcelain that was harder was created.
But over time, Europeans tended to prefer porcelain of a softer nature.
Although Chinese porcelain, which is known for its hardness, was imported, these European experiences influenced the expansion of the scope of porcelain designs to include a rich and diverse assortment of products.
5-Painting: Porcelain is a material that retains liquids inside, eliminating the need for an external coating.
This is different from pottery, which requires covering with a glossy glaze to be airtight and perform the same function.
The difference between pottery and porcelain in industry
Pottery or ceramic materials are made from non-metallic compositions. These materials are easily moldable when heated to temperatures ranging from 350 to 800 degrees Celsius, where they can be transformed into a softer state that facilitates their formation.
As for porcelain, it is treated when exposed to higher temperatures to become harder with an appearance resembling cast or blown glass. Porcelain is capable of bonding with clay materials and includes components such as zirconium and silicon carbide.
In the production of white porcelain, minerals such as feldspar and granite, as well as white clay, are ground and mixed with water to form a flexible mixture.
This mixture is later burned in an oven at a temperature between 1200 and 1450 degrees Celsius, to achieve the required quality.
Pottery is made by heating clay to a temperature of 1,000 degrees Celsius, then treating it with a layer of glaze before exposing it to heat again.
As for stoneware, it is produced from clay that is cooked at a temperature of up to 1200 degrees Celsius to acquire properties similar to glass.
In ancient China, most white porcelain was made in kilns in the north, the most famous being the Ding Kiln in Hebei Province, while Jingdezhen in the south was also a major center of porcelain production.
Types of pottery
1- Stoneware pottery: This type of pottery is known for its durability and endurance, as it consists of materials similar in hardness to stones.
This type is classified as one of the most prominent and strongest types of pottery known. Thanks to its strength and hardness, it is usually used to preserve items for long periods, unlike other types that may not provide the same properties.
2- Porcelain pottery: Chinese porcelain is considered one of the finest types of pottery, and its manufacture began in China.
Despite its Chinese origins, interest in it is not great in China, where it is treated with heat-resistant stoneware.
This porcelain contains a large amount of kaolin, which adds to its quality and uniqueness.
