Chamotte

Chamotte is a ceramic raw material. It has high percentage of silica and alumina. It can be produced by firing selected fire clays to high temperature before grinding and screening to specific particle sizes. It can also be produced from pitchers.

The particle size distribution is generally coarser in size than the other raw materials used to prepare clay bodies. It tends to be porous and have low density.

Chamotte is used in pottery and sculpture to add a gritty, rustic texture called “tooth”; it also reduces shrinkage and aids even drying. This prevents defects such as cracking, crow feet patterning, and lamination.

It also adds structural strength to hand-built and thrown pottery during shaping although it can diminish fired strength.