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Glaze Maturation
Glaze maturation involves kiln temperature, atmosphere, the firing schedule, and glaze composition. Without knowing a particular glaze's needs in order to mature, glaze problems will almost undoubtedly occur.
Although we are not ceramic chemists, we need a good idea of what makes glazes work as they do. Even if we are working with commercial glazes, we still need a base of understanding in order to apply and fire them with consistent and desirable results.
Glazes consist of four key components, each with their own function.
Temperature Ranges for Firing Glazes
Ceramic glazes each have a temperature range that they should be fired to. If the glazes are fired at too low a temperature, the glaze will not mature. If the temperature goes too high, the glaze will become too melted and run off the surface of the pottery. For success, a potter must know their glazes' temperature ranges at which they become mature.