Consolidant pottery

Pottery, one of the earliest human-made ceramic materials, is actually an artificial form of stone, made by combining the four basic elements recognized by the ancient Greeks earth (clay), water, air, and fire. In fact pottery is made from a circumstantial or deliberately prepared mixture of clay, other solid materials known by the generic name of fillers, and water. When a wet mixture of clay and fillers is formed into a desired shape, then dried and finally heated to high temperature (above 600°C), it becomes consolidated... 

Natural and synthetic resins are organic compounds easily found in art objects either as varnishes and protective coatings or binding media, adhesives, consolidants and finishing layers. They are mainly used in manufacturing paintings, but also in pottery, furniture and wooden objects, sculptures, musical instruments and works on paper. In addition, natural and synthetic resins have widespread use as conservation materials. 

Extrusion. The forcing of clay or other material through a die this is done by a continuous screw on a shaft rotating centrally in a steel cylinder (an auger ), or by a series of knives obliquely mounted on such a shaft (a pug ), or, occasionally, by means of a piston (a stupid ). Ceramic material may be extruded either to mix and consolidate it (as in the extrusion of pottery body prior to jiggering) or to give the body its final shape (as in the extrusion of bricks and pipes). 

Neither (1) nor (2) are discussed in this work, but both (3) and (4) are determined by the potential and limitations of the available materials. The possible roles that the resin will play in the conserved object must be examined closely. Resins frequently serve two purposes at once. When sticking friable pottery, the adhesive may also consolidate and strengthen the edges. When coating loose paint, the varnish will both cover the paint flakes and stick them to the substrate. These dual roles may be of great importance when the time comes to reverse the treatment. 

Al-Methoxymethyl nylon, Calaton CA and CB (ICI also called Maranyl C109/P), was recommended in the 1950s (Werner, 1958) for consolidating the painted surface of friable stone and pottery surfaces during soaking for removal... 

---