Clay for a Crucible - General

Alright fellow Facepunchers, I have a dilemma. After searching for several hours online, I have YET to find a single, inexpensive crucible. However, my local art teacher, seeing me in distress, suggested that I make my own crucible, and she has given me free reign over her industrial-sized kilns. SO! My question to you, Facepunchers, is simple. Does anyone know where I can find some high-temperature clay?

Well, what are you going to do with the crucible? Depending on how hot you need it to stand up, a standard pottery clay might be all you need. If your crucible survives the kiln, odds are it's likely to stand up to anything you want to put in it. A kiln will typically get from 1800 to 2400 degrees from what I have read. I saw melting points quoted between 1700 and 2800 depending on the composition of the material. [url]http://matse1.matse.illinois.edu/ceramics/prin.html[/url] I don't know what it would take to make a crucible out of magnesium oxide ( or even if you can ), but that seems the most likely material. I'd appreciate it if someone who knew what they were talking about were to join the thread since I just did some searching to find this information.

2400 degrees F should be fine, actually, but if I could find anything that can hit at the most around 3000, that would be fantastic. It's strange that stuff like that is so hard to find (or is ridiculously expensive).

[url]www.whitedirt.com[/url] [url]www.bestwhitedirt.com[/url] Are these what you're looking for OP? [editline]3rd April 2011[/editline] These are eating ones, but I think they make crucibles out of this stuff. [editline]3rd April 2011[/editline] You could also but make-up ones.

[QUOTE=Billiam;28970983][url]www.whitedirt.com[/url] [url]www.bestwhitedirt.com[/url] Are these what you're looking for OP? [editline]3rd April 2011[/editline] These are eating ones, but I think they make crucibles out of this stuff. [editline]3rd April 2011[/editline] You could also but make-up ones.[/QUOTE] Close, but no cigar. I'm looking for Al2O3, not AlSi2O5OH.

If you want a smaller one, you can get them for less than 5$. (Pouring metal for rings, ect) [url]http://www.labdepotinc.com/c-305-porcelain-crucible.php[/url]

[QUOTE=OogalaBoogal;29080249]If you want a smaller one, you can get them for less than 5$. (Pouring metal for rings, ect) [URL]http://www.labdepotinc.com/c-305-porcelain-crucible.php[/URL][/QUOTE] I dont know where you live, but websites like Ebay are selling hightemp clay mix and graphite powder.. the standard metal casting crucibles can handle upto about 1800'C and are made of from clay and graphite. give clay graphite crucible a search on google. All inexpensive materials