Glaze material · Colorants
Silicon carbide
Also sold as: carborundum
A local-reduction agent: fine grades (around 0.5%) reduce copper in an electric kiln; coarse grades (2–5%) make crater glazes.
In published recipes
Used in 125 of 10,859 glaze recipes (1.1%)
Typical amount when present
1% of the dry batch — half of recipes fall between 0.8% and 1.5%.
Fired surface of those recipes
Glossy 50% · Semi-glossy 22% · Stony matte 19% · Satin 9%
Most often mixed with
Materials that appear in the same recipes most often.
Chemistry
- Raw formula
- SiC
- Molecular weight
- 40.07
- reacts in the melt; carbon leaves as gas
From Linda Arbuckle's materials table. Mineral formulas are idealized; buy an analysis for the bag you have. Equivalent weight is the weight that supplies one molecule of the fired oxide — the number glaze calculation uses.
What potters should know
It reacts in the melt to release gas — the same behaviour that gives craters can also give unwanted bubbles.
Handling and safety
Dry ceramic materials generate respirable silica dust. Use a NIOSH-approved N95 or P100 respirator and adequate ventilation when mixing dry, and wet-clean surfaces.
This information is provided for planning purposes and is derived from publicly available sources including OSHA regulations, NIOSH guidance, and manufacturer safety data sheets. It does not constitute professional safety advice. Consult your material suppliers' SDS documents and applicable local regulations for authoritative safety guidance.
Questions
- How much Silicon carbide do potters use in a glaze?
- Across 125 published glaze recipes containing it, the typical amount is 1% of the dry batch, with half of recipes between 0.8% and 1.5%. Colorants and additives sit far lower than fluxes and glass formers; treat these as a range to test around, not a target.
- What cone is Silicon carbide used at?
- It appears in recipes across the range; the most common cones among published recipes are cone 6, cone 5, cone 7. Where a material sits depends on the rest of the recipe more than on the material itself.
- Is Silicon carbide safe to use?
- It carries no specific hazard flag beyond the general rule for all dry ceramic materials: avoid breathing the dust and read the supplier's SDS.
Related materials
| Glaze material | recipes | typical |
|---|---|---|
| Copper carbonate | 1,779 | 3% |
Sources. Usage figures are computed by Claybench over 10,859 glaze recipes compiled from publicly shared community recipe collections (snapshot 2026-02-27) — counts only; no recipe is reproduced, and the figures describe that collection, not every recipe in existence. Material roles and notes are paraphrased from Linda Arbuckle's Ceramic Materials handout unless noted. Hazard notes summarise supplier SDS guidance; read the SDS for the product you buy.
Claybench tracks your glaze materials, not just recipes
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