3D printing of self-glazing ceramic materials: An investigation inspired by ancient Egyptian technology

Huson, David

Abstract

The inspiration and background research for this project is based upon Egyptian Faience because there is an interesting and coincidental synergy between the material properties of ancient Egyptian Faience and the material requirement for the successful 3D printing of ceramic powders. Originating in the 5th Millennium BC, Egyptian Faience was not made from clay, but instead composed of quartz and alkali fluxes and is distinct from Italian Faience or Majolica, which is a tin, glazed earthenware. In its original Egyptian context Faience was a versatile material used in a variety of ways and in a number of different forms, to create objects such as sculpture, vessels, funeral figurines, tiles, boxes and body ornamentation - all with a highly coloured lustred glaze. In contemporary terms Egyptian Paste has visual qualities desirable to many craft practitioners. This paper charts the progress of the project to date and details the technical development of 3D printed self-glazing ceramics. The potential of the process will be demonstrated by the production of ceramic artworks using the techniques developed during the project.

• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2013
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 29
• Pages: 14-17
• Series Title: Digital Printing Technologies
• Book Title: NIP29 29th International Conference on Digital Printing Technologies Digital Fabrication 2013 Technical Program and Proceedings
• ISBN: 9780892083060
• Keywords: Egyptian Faience, ceramic, 3D print, glaze
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/938671
• Publisher URL: http://www.imaging.org/ist/conferences/nip/