A liquid clay body,also known as casting slip,cannot be made by simply adding an excessive amount of water to dry or wet clay.A dry mudflat is an excellent example of why adding additional water will not work: the particles spread further apart as extra water is added,and when the clay dries,it cracks and falls into pieces.Chemicals called deflocculants help liquify clay bodies without adding excess water.A deflocculant works like two magnets turned so the same charged poles face each other,creating a situation where the clay particles now repel one another.Added to a clay body in very small amounts,a deflocculant can liquify a clay body with approximately 40% water added by weight,which is not much more than the 20-30% of water that is usually added to mix clay for handbuilding or wheel throwing.
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