Paperclay is, apparently, the wonder product for Potters. It consists of clay slip, to which has
been added a quantity of finely milled fibre. The amount of fibre you need depends upon what effect you are seeking, the type
and length of the fibre, and, to an extent, what works for you. The resulting reinforced slip, has a range of unusual properties,
including the ability to attach wet clay to dry, wet clay to prefired, and fire the changes without cracking.
We don’t pretend to be the experts on this, and refer you to Graham Hay’s website for
a wealth of technical and background in formation on Paperclay, together with extremely useful related links. Follow the link
to Graham’s website at the end of the text.
What we can do is offer you a comprehensive range of cellulose fibres, of varying fibre lengths to suit specific requirements,
and, of course, your own personal preferences!
It is possible to collect your own waste paper, soak it, shred it and use it. Many Potters prefer
this method, since it is, apparently, cheap and environmentally friendly. Those
of you who have tried it, may have different thoughts on the matter. Recycled paper contains large amounts of undesirable
contaminants, such as ink, fillers, starches, cationic wet and dry strength additives, coating residues, dyes, chlorine bleach
residue, and flame retardants. (Chlorine residues give rise to dioxins when burnt
in the kiln. Flame retardants from insulation grade cellulose, moves the burn out temperature from 200-230oC to 950oC!) Recycled paper is
very variable, and, what works once, may be a total disaster the next time. You may get an effect you can never reproduce.
Cellu-fiber milled cellulose grades are made from 100% micronised virgin
wood pulp from managed, renewable forest resources, with high Alpha cellulose content, high whiteness, high Zeta potential,
and very low ash and lignin content. Typical fibre lengths are as follows:
Cellu-fiber XF - 200 microns.
Cellu-fiber F - 300
microns.
Cellu-fiber M - 1000
microns.
Cellu-fiber L - 2000
microns.
Typical fibre diameter for all grades is 20 microns. All of these grades are also suitable
for Papier Maché.
