Can INSIGHT calculate melting temperatures of glazes?
The complexities of oxide interactions and firing methods along with the wide range of physical and mineralogical properties of materials supplying oxides make the prediction of absolute values for fired properties an inexact and highly system-specific science at best. This is especially the case with melting temperature prediction. However ceramic calculations work well as a relative science. INSIGHT’s dual recipe functionality makes it a natural for studying one recipe in relation to another with respect to maturing temperature, expansion, etc. Technicians change the chemistry of a recipe according to a knowledge of what direction the change should take the desired property. Then they relate fired results back to the chemical change and build understanding to use for subsequent fine tuning. It is common to develop prediction skills within specific ‘oxide systems’. We teach people the interpretation skills they need to do this. Digitalfire is very hesitant to build temperature predict
