DRYING CLOSETS FOR CERAMICS
The chemical laboratory is fully equipped with the necessary apparatus for carrying on special chemical research in silicate chemistry, including electrical resistance furnaces, shaking devices, etc. It is not the intention to do routine work in this laboratory. The office adjoins this laboratory, and near it is the physical laboratory, devoted to the study of the structure of raw materials. The latter contains Nobel and Schoene elutriators, together with viscosimeters of the flow and the Coulomb and Clark electrical types, sieves, voluminometers, colorimeters, vernier shrinkage gauges, micrometers, microscopes, and the necessary balances.
The room across the hall is devoted to the study of the specific gravity, absorption, porosity, permeability, hardness, translucency, etc., of burnt-clay products, all the necessary apparatus being provided. In the two remaining rooms, intended for research work, special apparatus adapted to the particular investigation may be set up. All the rooms are piped for water, gas, compressed air, steam, and drainage, and wired for light and power.
In the kiln house there is a test kiln adapted for solid fuel and gas. It is of the down-draft type, with an available burning space of about 8 cu. ft. ([Fig. 9]). For heavier ware and the study of the fire behavior of clay products under conditions approaching those of practice, a round down-draft kiln, with an inside diameter of 6 ft., is installed. About 13 ft. above the floor level, and supported by iron beams, there is a flue parallel to the long side of the structure. This flue conducts the gases of the kilns to the stack, which is symmetrically located with reference to the kiln house. Natural gas is the principal fuel. In addition to these kilns, a small muffle furnace, fired with
petroleum, is provided for the determination of melting points, and an electric carbon resistance furnace, with an aluminum muffle for high-temperature work. For crucible-fusion work, a gas-fired pot furnace is installed.
DOWN-DRAFT KILN
Along the north wall, bins are provided for the storage of fuel, clay, sand, and other kiln supplies. There are two floor drainage sinks, and electric current, steam, water, and compressed air, are provided.