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Discussion: Magic of Clay
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WiseChoice |
Magic of Clay
Mar 20 2010, 4:56 PM EDT
Hello everyone. I will be writing a guide to all things that have to do with clay. It is what I am studying in school and am pretty knowledgable about the subject. I made this thread to see what other people thought. Any ideas that people wanted to include?So far I can think of a number of bonuses for using clay: Clay is found anywhere where there is water. (Also in many many many more places.) Clay is extremely strong. (Not very flexible, however.) Clay is very easy to find, dig, clean and use. (200 lbs could be found, dug, and cleaned in a day) Clay is extremely long lasting. (Some sculptures found are 25,000-30,000 years old. Some pots found are 15,000-20,000 years old.) You can make incredible amounts of things with clay. (Jars, Homes and Water Filters in a zombie apocalypse to name a few) What do you think? Input? Additions? I havent actually sat down to think of it. 9 out of 10 found this valuable. Do you? |
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WiseChoice |
1. RE: Magic of Clay
Mar 20 2010, 5:08 PM EDT
I have a friend who is an Engineering major. He is attempting to make an engine out of clay. I know people who know how to make ovens out of clay. Someone I am currently in school with is trying to make a forge to heat metal in out of clay. You can make countless containers out of clay. Bricks for building anything. The thing about clay is it's sort of brittle at low temperatures. At high temperatures it is incredibly strong.
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PedroAsani |
2. RE: Magic of Clay
Mar 20 2010, 5:25 PM EDT
Am I right in thinking that an engine made of clay would deteriorate because of the cooling/heating it would be put through?
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JPTank |
3. RE: Magic of Clay
Mar 20 2010, 5:41 PM EDT
An engine out of clay? I wouldn't know how to do it, but it could be plausible. The heat shield on space shuttles is made of ceramic, so are most toilets, urinals and many cups. Not quite clay but isn't it, basically? Clay on the other hand, you can build huts and structures with that, as well as stoves and forges - that's what was used back in the day. I've seen a clay BBQ. I don't doubt you could make a furnace type generator to run your electricity. Do you find this valuable? |
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WiseChoice |
4. RE: Magic of Clay
Mar 20 2010, 9:38 PM EDT
"Am I right in thinking that an engine made of clay would deteriorate because of the cooling/heating it would be put through?"Depending upon the clay. Weaker clays no but stronger clays would last a really long time. How hot would you say a small engine would get? I wouldn't know. Do you find this valuable? |
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WiseChoice |
5. RE: Magic of Clay
Mar 20 2010, 9:39 PM EDT
"An engine out of clay? I wouldn't know how to do it, but it could be plausible. The heat shield on space shuttles is made of ceramic, so are most toilets, urinals and many cups. Not quite clay but isn't it, basically?Absolutely. All I would need is the knowledge and I would know exactly where to dig for clay that is stronger than clay dug somewhere else. Then use that clay for an engine. Do you find this valuable? |
Jahadaz |
6. RE: Magic of Clay
Mar 20 2010, 10:14 PM EDT
Can't you make super hard knives out of clay or is that something else?
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WiseChoice |
7. RE: Magic of Clay
Mar 20 2010, 10:19 PM EDT
"Can't you make super hard knives out of clay or is that something else?"Clay is brittle. It doesn't do well with sudden impact. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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WiseChoice |
8. RE: Magic of Clay
Mar 20 2010, 10:29 PM EDT
"Can't you make super hard knives out of clay or is that something else?"I googled it. You are right. The extremely hard ceramic knives are made from a really rare ceramic material called zirconium dioxide. The type of ceramic I am talking about, you would not be able to make knives out of. The only way they are made with modern technology is because of how incredibly they pressurize the zirconium dixide. So naturally it would not be possible. but with technology and that extremely rare mineral you can. They dont use a pure form of the material due to its polymorphing. They combine lots of elements and materials to the formula when making the knives. Even when you pressurize the mineral it is extremely brittle. Only when you fire it does it become strong. So technically "yeah" you can make ceramic knives. But its a very farfetched "yeah". 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Bipp |
9. RE: Magic of Clay
Mar 20 2010, 11:43 PM EDT
This sounds like a page on clay would be very informative, and valuable for all survivors to know. This is would be a great trade to know, one could make clay and clay items for trading.
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WiseChoice |
10. RE: Magic of Clay
Mar 21 2010, 12:40 AM EDT
"This sounds like a page on clay would be very informative, and valuable for all survivors to know. This is would be a great trade to know, one could make clay and clay items for trading."Thank You! I will have a guide up soon. Do you find this valuable? |
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PedroAsani |
11. RE: Magic of Clay
Mar 21 2010, 8:26 AM EDT
It's too early for me to google zirconium, but I'm sure that's the stuff that fake diamonds are made of. It would explain why it's so tough, anyway.
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WiseChoice |
12. RE: Magic of Clay
Mar 21 2010, 10:16 AM EDT
"It's too early for me to google zirconium, but I'm sure that's the stuff that fake diamonds are made of. It would explain why it's so tough, anyway."Yeah but like I was saying. Its "technically" possible. But a farfetched technically because of how it is produced and the fact that science is sort of manipulating it in a way for it to work. Do you find this valuable? |
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MattLew |
13. RE: Magic of Clay
Mar 21 2010, 1:28 PM EDT
I have heard since the mid 80's that in the 70's some guys at Berkly had made a engine that for insane MPG (tales of 100mpg), only to sell out to the oil companies for a couple million dollars... they had just seen the oil crisis of the 70's and gas rationing, etc. by the 90's I was hearing that the engine they built was ceramic turbine. (yes the urban legend of the oil company buying the patents to the super engine still persisted)...as for what could be done with it... on our level, I could see use of refractory clay for a steam boiler. theoretically should be far more efficient than just a metal housing. one of my personal plans is to build a house with a combination of geothermal and solar heating with an out door boiler as a back up (in case the snow, volcanic ash, dreary cloudy days, nuclear winter, etc keeps the solar efficiency low enough to get chilly in the house) such out door boilers are currently available on the open market. generally use woof, or pelleted fuels. but I have seen prices that make a gas furnace look appealing. I know I can make one cheaper. and your mentioning ceramic engines got me thinking that a refractory clay lined gas forge need only have a 12g sheet metal shell while achieving a couple thousand degrees of temperature. likewise, I have read recently that some experiments in steam engines are taking place using diesel fired steam engines due to insane amounts of power that a steam engine produces. they are still using steam engines at Bonneville to set land speed records (though these records are for their class), and from what I have read there is actually a group of engineers who believe we may eventually return to steam driven trains using a more efficient diesel fired steam engine to accomplish better fuel efficiency than diesel electric is currently getting. (which despite their huge fuel consumption is still calculated as being 100s of times more efficient than shipping by semi) Do you find this valuable? |
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MattLew |
14. RE: Magic of Clay
Mar 21 2010, 1:47 PM EDT
| Post edited: Mar 21 2010, 1:48 PM EDT
as for the ceramic knives... I have known several cooks who have gotten them.one cook I know got a very expensive set of ceramics, and thinks they are the best thing ever invented. however MOST that I know say they are far too brittle. most of the cooks I know who have used ceramic knives got rid of the ceramic knife sets they had bought and returned to high carbon steel. one person I know saved ONE knife from her set and sold the rest on e-bay to buy a Henkel set. on the other hand they are said to be wonderful in the right kitchen implements... shredder blades for example... or vegetable peelers. these items to not suffer the impact, or the accidentally hitting bone, etc that knives do. so for those of you thinking "oooh go out get a bunch of clay, take it to the wise one, and get the worlds sharpest sword..." think again. but his knowledge of ceramics will still make your life far easier. although the mention of the fragility of ceramics brings up a thought I have had for some time now. they have been using various fibers to make concrete less prone to fracture for many years now... could the same be done for ceramics? I am presently on my 4th set of ceramic feast gear in less than 3 years for a historical recreation group I am in. each time I have lost some it was while they where in transit from my camp to the feast hall. I figure I could make individual padded cases for each piece, but the padding necessary would add way too much bulk to my kit. I know a couple potters who I have been wanting to commission some historical replica bottles from, but at the same time, I don't want something so fragile any thoughts? would adding fibrous material to the clay make it less prone to fracturing like it does for concrete? Do you find this valuable? |
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JPTank |
15. RE: Magic of Clay
Mar 21 2010, 1:59 PM EDT
Hmm. So if one were to make clay bricks and arch them in a tunnel system, one could make a sturdy underground base or storage rooms - hidden away from raiders. Dude, the possibilities are endless. Ceramic knives... I don't think that zarconium is the only way to make ceramic stronger. Qubic zarconiums are lab created diamonds. Actually worthless-ish compared to natural diamonds. It's understandable. Diamonds are completly made of carbon. Compressed like mad and heated over millions of years. Prettymuch compressed heated coal. In fact, the way to tell if a diamond is 100% authentic is to look closely for carbon deposits. (pretty much tiny lumps of coal inside the diamond. If it's got none, it's either a vvs class diamond or it's lab created... Or it's fake - which is pretty much glass. It's possible to make a knife out of diamond. Though you'd need one large diamond for it cause it's not like one could smelt it down and forge a knife. Jewlers use diamond dust to make the cuts on a diamond because general rule of thumb is only diamond can cut diamond, a normal blade actually won't work. It's possible to fuse some sort of carbon to the ceramic to make it that much stronger. Don't forget, carbon fiber is in bullet proof vests, fiberglass, body armor. It's very durable and when you put on a carbon fibre vest, you're basically wearing diamonds. Diamonds (real diamonds depending on the grade) are very very durable and uberly hard to break. You could take a hammer and hit the diamond or take a pin and scratch it and it shouldn't phase it. Now I'm not saying take a hammer and waste the mofo, but a good hit shouldn't do anything. If it smashes to dust, you've got yourself a fake diamond. I'm a collector/ seller myself, (yes as an 18 year old - gotta make that $$ somehow in these economic times). Do you find this valuable? |
AlexHigginbotham |
16. RE: Magic of Clay
Mar 21 2010, 3:28 PM EDT
Turbine engines are to finiky for general use like in cars and whatnot. They are the most fuel efficient and cleanest burning engines in the world, but aren't tough enough to put in an every day driver.The blast shields on the space shuttle are actually nimonic 75 coated in ceramic. Do you find this valuable? |
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WiseChoice |
17. RE: Magic of Clay
Mar 21 2010, 3:29 PM EDT
"as for the ceramic knives... I have known several cooks who have gotten them.I was by no means saying people could come to me and I could make them ceramic knives. Not only do I not know how to make them but they require very high tech machinery and diamond tipped sharpeners etc.. As for the adding fibers to the clay, it does make it stronger before the clay is fired the final time(as you're building etc). However, you need special ceramic fiber (fibers made from the spinning of ceramic material) in order for it to be fired with the clay. Even then it could pose some structural problems. Do you find this valuable? |
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WiseChoice |
18. RE: Magic of Clay
Mar 21 2010, 3:33 PM EDT
"Hmm. So if one were to make clay bricks and arch them in a tunnel system, one could make a sturdy underground base or storage rooms - hidden away from raiders. Dude, the possibilities are endless.The point I was trying to make is that one couldn't make ceramic knives in a zombie apocalypse because he/she would simply lack the technology. It would be too advanced and not worth the effort and man/woman power. Do you find this valuable? |
LJ126 |
19. RE: Magic of Clay
Mar 21 2010, 3:52 PM EDT
| Post edited: Jul 12 2012, 3:46 PM EDT
Oddly enough, I was considering taking a ceramics class (for next semester) sometime last week just to fill an elective slot. I might just do so now!
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