Browsing by Author "Ahami, Philemon"

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    Formulation of Glazes Using Selected Available Natural Materials from Mukono and Jinja Districts, Uganda
    (Kenyatta University, 2024-05) Ahami, Philemon
    The researcher carried out a study on glaze formulation using selected natural materials collected from Mukono and Jinja districts. This was guided by geological mapping of Uganda. The topography of Uganda is made up of rolling hills, ridges, plains, and multiple drainage systems, all of which are rich in natural mineral resources. Amongst the mineral possessions are the massive sums of clay like kaolin and muscovite which was important for this study research. Although there has been development in the understanding of glaze formulation, the survey done on the three studios showed that there is a need for the researcher to conduct the study due to the imported glazes which have a direct effect on product pricing. The selected natural materials were collected and ground using the ball mill, transported to Kenyatta University ceramic studio. The chemical analysis was done using X-Ray Fluorescence to determine rock composition. The studio tests were first done at primary testing of 100% at a temperature of 1250ᵒC and the firing temperatures were split into two categories, low temperature (1200ᵒC) and high temperature (1250ᵒC). Additives were part of the progressive testing using the lining blend. The tests were done on the clay test bars, the second progressive test was 85% material collected and 15% additional material, and the final progressive test was 80% material collected and 20% additional material. The research significantly added knowledge in the field of ceramics in the area of formulating glazes using locally available natural materials that are affordable for the Ugandan local ceramic market and presumably the international market. Glaze properties like viscosity, surface tension, volatilization, fusibility, and reaction with the body clay were used to determine successful glazes using a psychometric observation scale. Successful glazes were applied to creative project work.
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    Formulation of New Ceramic Glazes: Test Results Of Rock Material Found In Eastern Uganda
    (University of Nairobi, 2023-06) Ahami, Philemon; Ngondo, Anthony
    Glazes are very thin glass layers or coatings used to cover clay bodies to make them impermeable, mechanically tougher, scratch-resistant, chemically more inert, and more aesthetically beautiful. Glazes are moderately cheap in price as they are produced using naturally occurring local resources that tend to be plentiful in supply, easy, and dependable to mine. Scholars have reported that the best way to learn about the formulation of ceramic glazes is to have the ingredients used in their manufacture tested. The tests carried out involve varying different amounts of the ingredients that make the glaze formulated and then fired at different temperatures in a kiln. Problem: There, however, has not been much research done on glaze formulation using geology in Uganda. According to the survey done on the three studios located within Mukono district in Uganda, geared towards outlining glaze challenges faced by practicing ceramics artists show cased the difficulties they underwent in finding glazes. Objective: The main objective of this paper was to report the test results of glaze formulation experiments done on selected natural materials found in the Mukono and Jinja districts of Eastern Uganda. Design: This paper used a Quasi-experimental research design and furthered the Solomon four-group design. Setting: The rock samples were collected from Jinja and Mukono districts, Uganda, and transported to the Kenyatta University Ceramic Studio for testing. Subject: the subject of this paper are rock samples form Mukono and Jinja districts of Eastern Uganda. Results: The paper presents the aesthetic and functional qualities of the fired glazed test bars that had been constituted with different rock samples and fired at different temperatures. The results indicate that most of the glaze samples matured better and had better aesthetic and functional qualities when fired at higher kiln temperatures of 1250ᵒC than they did at low kiln fire temperatures of 1100ᵒC. Conclusion: Glazes can be formulated using natural materials. Similarly, at the higher temperature, the glazes appeared to have a better shine and gloss finish as opposed to their aesthetic look when fired at the lower temperature. Documentation of the aesthetic and functional qualities of the new glaze is done.