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Glaze Unity Formula

Convert a glaze recipe from percentages to unity molecular formula (UMF) for glaze chemistry analysis.

Inputs

g

The glass former - grams of silica in your batch

g

The stabilizer - controls melt viscosity and durability

g

Primary flux at cone 6+ - usually from whiting or wollastonite

g

Strong alkaline flux - typically from feldspar or frit

g

Alkaline flux - usually rides in with potash feldspar

g

Secondary flux - adds butteriness; from talc or dolomite

g

Secondary flux - promotes crystal growth in some glazes

Results

SiO2 (unity)

3.23

Al2O3 (unity)

0.32

SiO2:Al2O3 Ratio

10.18:1

CaO (unity)0.769
Na2O (unity)0.174
K2O (unity)0.057
MgO (unity)0.000
ZnO (unity)0.000
Total Flux Unity1.000
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Tips

1
A good starting SiO₂:Al₂O₃ ratio is 5-7:1 at cone 6, higher at cone 10
2
Unity formulas let you compare glazes regardless of their raw material sources

Open formula

Unity Formula: Flux total normalized to 1.0
SiO₂:Al₂O₃ ratio determines glaze fit

Converts weight percentages to moles of each oxide, normalizes fluxes to 1.0.

Target SiO₂:Al₂O₃ ratios vary by temp. Cone 6: ~5-7:1, Cone 10: ~7-10:1.

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