How to Measure Specific Gravity of Glaze?

The specific gravity of glaze can be measured using a syringe and a scale.

Measuring Specific Gravity of Glaze

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to measure the specific gravity of a glaze using a syringe and a scale, based on the provided reference:

Prepare the Syringe and Scale:
- First, place the empty syringe on the scale.
- Zero out the scale with the empty syringe resting on it. This ensures that you're only measuring the weight of the glaze itself.
Fill the Syringe with Glaze:
- Carefully fill the syringe with exactly 10 mL of the glaze.
Weigh the Filled Syringe:
- Place the filled syringe back on the scale and note the weight measurement.
Calculate Specific Gravity:
- Move the decimal point of the resulting weight measurement one place to the left. The result is the specific gravity of the glaze. For example, if the filled syringe weighs 14.7 grams, the specific gravity would be 1.47.

Specific Gravity: Specific gravity is the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of a reference substance, typically water. In this case, we're comparing the density of the glaze to the density of water.
Water as a Reference: Because 1 mL of water weighs 1 gram, the weight of the 10mL of glaze when you move the decimal point one place to the left allows for a quick calculation of the specific gravity.
Example: If 10 mL of your glaze weighs 14.7 grams then the specific gravity would be 1.47
- (14.7 grams / 10mL)/1gram = 1.47

Consistency: Specific gravity helps maintain consistency in glaze application. By measuring specific gravity, you can control the thickness and behavior of the glaze which is critical for achieving consistent results and controlling the final product.
Predictability: Knowing the specific gravity allows for more predictable firing results.
Troubleshooting: Deviations in specific gravity can be an indicator of potential problems with the glaze batch and allow for adjustment.

Step	Action	Details
1	Zero the scale	Place empty syringe on scale, then zero scale
2	Fill syringe	Carefully fill syringe with 10 mL of glaze
3	Weigh filled syringe	Place filled syringe on scale and record weight
4	Calculate Specific Gravity	Move the decimal point of the measured weight one place to the left to obtain specific gravity