fritbased

Fritbased is a term used in ceramics to describe a glaze or ceramic body formulation that relies primarily on frit, a ground glass produced by melting a batch, forming a homogeneous glass, and quenching it into a granular powder. This approach contrasts with glazes that derive their network from raw silica, fluxes, and alumina blended directly in the glaze slurry.

Production and composition: Frit is produced by melting selected oxide mixtures to a liquid glass and then rapidly cooling it to a solid, which is crushed into a fine powder. The frit powder is mixed with water or other vehicles, colorants, opacifiers, stabilizers, and binders to create a glaze slurry. In fritbased glazes, the frit supplies the main glass-forming components, often with smaller additions of traditional raw materials to fine-tune melting behavior.

Applications: Fritbased formulations are common in stoneware and porcelain glazes, where they provide predictable melting ranges, smooth surfaces, and reduced defects such as pinholes and crawl. They are also favored in decal and slip applications for consistent color development and glaze performance across batches.

Advantages and limitations: Benefits include improved batch-to-batch consistency, easier milling and handling, reduced dust, and more controlled melting behavior, which can enable repeatable results across firing schedules. Limitations can include higher material costs and potential constraints on certain color formations or textures that rely on raw silica dissolution or crystalline phases found in traditional fritless glazes.

See also: frit, ceramic glaze, glaze chemistry, glass frit.