section_path: Clay bodies and raw materials
section_name: Clay bodies and raw materials
paragraph_text: Clay bodies and raw materials
  
  Body, or clay body, is the material used to form pottery. Thus a potter might prepare, or order from a supplier, such an amount of earthenware body, stoneware body or porcelain body. The compositions of clay bodies varies considerably, and include both prepared and 'as dug'; the former being by far the dominant type for studio and industry. The properties also vary considerably, and include plasticity and mechanical strength before firing; the firing temperature needed to mature them; properties after firing, such as permeability, mechanical strength and colour.
  
  There can be regional variations in the properties of raw materials used for pottery, and these can lead to wares that are unique in character to a locality.
  
  The main ingredient of the body is clay. Some different types used for pottery include:
  
  It is common for clays and other raw materials to be mixed to produce clay bodies suited to specific purposes. Various mineral processing techniques are often utilised before mixing the raw materials, with comminution being effectively universal for non-clay materials.
  
  Examples of non-clay materials include: