Grog (clay)

It can be produced by firing selected fire clays to high temperature before grinding and screening to specific particle sizes. Another method makes it 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.

Grog is composed of 40% minimum alumina, 30% minimum silica, 4% maximum iron(III) oxide, up to 2% calcium oxide and magnesium oxide combined.[1]

Its melting point is approximately 1,780 °C (3,240 °F). Its boiling point is over 9,000 °C (16,230 °F). Its water absorption is maximum 7%. Its thermal expansion coefficient is 5.2 mm/m and thermal conductivity is 0.8 W/(m·K) at 100 °C and 1.0 W/(m·K) at 1000 °C. It is not easily wetted by steel.[1]

Grog is used in pottery and sculpture to add a gritty, rustic texture called "tooth"; it reduces shrinkage and aids even drying. This prevents defects such as cracking, crows feet patterning, and lamination. The coarse particles open the green clay body to allow gases to escape. Grog adds structural strength to hand-built and thrown pottery during shaping, although it can diminish fired strength.

The finer the particles, the closer the clay bond, and the denser and stronger the fired product. "The strength in the dry state increases with grog down as fine as that passing the 100-mesh sieve, but decreases with material passing the 200-mesh sieve." [2]

In Middle and South Europe, grog is used to create fire-resistant chamotte type bricks and mortar for construction of fireplaces, old-style and industrial furnaces, and as component of high temperature application sealants and adhesives.

A typical example of domestic use is a pizzastone made from chamotte. Because the stone can absorb heat, you can bake pizza or bread on the stone in a regular domestic oven. The advantage is supposed to be a more even heat. A normal commercial domestic oven cools down when the door is opened. The stone however remains hot, creating a more even bake. Another advantage is the fact that the stone can absorb some moisture making for a drier bake.

In archaeology, 'grog' is crushed fired pottery of any type that is added as a temper to unfired clay. Several pottery types from the European Bronze Age are typologised on the basis of their grog inclusions.

• Grogg

• Jain, P. L. (2003), Principles of Foundry Technology (4th, revised ed.), Tata McGraw-Hill, ISBN 978-0-07-044760-8.
• Lidell, Macy Liddell (1922), Handbook of chemical engineering, Volume 1 (unknown, revised ed.), McGraw-Hill Book Company, ASIN B000UFRYQI.