The skin is a hard state of clay. Clay

Since ancient times, man has used clay for his needs. It was the basis of building materials, they made dishes from it, used it for treatment. Clay is an integral part of the world in which we live, like earth, trees, water. Clay deposits are found all over the world. Some species are used as a component for the production of building materials. Other types of clay are used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. We are interested in the last clay, the one that can be used for healing and maintaining health.

What is clay made of?

Clay is a soft, loose earthy material containing particles smaller than 4 microns. Clay is formed as a result of weathering and erosion of rocks, which contains the mineral feldspar. During the weathering of feldspar under the influence of water, its composition changes and clay minerals are formed, such as kaolinite (the main mineral of kaolin clays) and smectite (the main mineral of bentonite clays).

Kaolinite has a flat, dense lamellar structure and consists mainly of silicate and aluminate.

Smectites, unlike kaolinite, have a four, six, octahedral structure, through which water freely penetrates, forming a gel. There are two main types. This is sodium and potassium bentonite, depending on the content of potassium or sodium in it.

Useful and healing properties of clay

Clay is one of the oldest remedies used by man to treat many diseases. Its beauty properties are passed down from generation to generation.

Depending on the minerals (silicon, iron, magnesium, calcium) contained in the clay, its color and properties may vary. Clay is able to absorb unpleasant odors, fight germs and bacteria, soothe pain, cleanse the skin, leaving it clean and smooth.

Clay can bring great benefits to the human body and maintain health. It is used in the treatment of dermatitis, rheumatism, it is able to relieve stress and calm. The chemical composition of clay gives this mineral substance truly unique healing properties. Here are just a few of its medicinal properties.

Antiseptic and bactericidal. Clay is a sterile complex that can create an environment that is not viable for the development of bacteria, inhibit their reproduction and is completely safe for humans.

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Due to its ability to absorb heat, clay soothes and relieves inflammation. This property is used for burns, sprains, bruises, in cosmetology.

Remineralization. The finely dispersed structure of clay allows the release and absorption of minerals from it, which can be successfully used for joint diseases, fractures, osteoporosis, and anemia.

Adsorbent and antitoxic properties. The ability of clay to absorb a large amount of water allows you to draw out toxins, poisons from the body, especially water-soluble ones, and also reduce gas formation. At the same time, it "shares" the mineral composition with the body. This property of clay is used for poisoning, flatulence. The action of the well-known means "Smekta" is based precisely on this property of clay.

regenerating properties. Clay stimulates blood clotting and accelerates tissue regeneration (this applies only to clays containing aluminum).

alkalizing properties. The high content of the basic elements of the composition of the clay has an alkalizing effect on the human body.

Tonic properties. The complex of minerals improves body functions and gives energy. The high calcium content, for example, helps to strengthen bones and give elasticity to tissues. Magnesium can relieve nervous tension and muscle fatigue. The high content of silica in clay is especially useful for anemia, chronic fatigue, and weak immunity.

Types of clay

Clay is now available at any pharmacy or store. Its classification depends on the color of the clay, which in turn depend on the chemical composition, location of the clay deposit. In general, there are two main types of clay. These are kaolin clay and bentonite. Multi-colored clay belongs to kaolinic. Although bentonite may also vary slightly in color depending on the deposit.

Green clay. Green clay is about 50 percent silica and about 14 percent aluminum compound. It is alkaline and has strong anti-inflammatory properties. Such clay is most often used externally to treat eczema, acne, dark spots. It absorbs sebum well and is often used in cosmetology.

White clay. This type of clay contains a large amount of silicon dioxide, about 48 percent, and aluminum (about 36 percent). Often referred to simply as kaolin or white clay, it is considered the best clay of all for internal use. It removes fermentation in the intestines, has intoxication properties.

Unlike green clay, which can cause constipation when used internally, white clay, on the contrary, stimulates intestinal motility. When used internally, white clay absorbs bacteria and viruses, toxins that are present in the digestive system, reduces gas formation, which is useful for poisoning and bloating.

In addition, white clay relieves stomach pain caused by high acidity, heartburn and normalizes ph. It is also used to speed up wound healing and reduce inflammation.
when used externally, it can be used to make masks. It improves skin condition, removes wrinkles, peeling, cleanses the skin of excess sebum, tightens pores and tightens the contour of the face.

White clay is hypoallergenic and can be used to care for sensitive skin and even baby skin in the form of powder.

Red clay. The red color of the clay is due to ferric iron. There is practically no aluminum in this clay. It was used by the ancient Romans to treat joint pain. She treated horse injuries and washed them with this clay to prevent infections and diseases.

Today, red clay is used in cosmetology in many masks and creams. It can be used for sore gums: just brush your teeth and gums and then rinse your mouth well.
Red clay is recommended for sensitive delicate skin, with dermatitis, as it has good adsorbing properties, relieves irritation and pain.

This type of clay can be used for bruises, hematomas, muscle pain. It relieves swelling and pain. It is recommended to use red clay for those who often suffer from headaches, abscesses, boils, migraines, gout, as it improves blood circulation.

Yellow clay. The yellow color of the clay is due to the presence of iron and copper in it. It can be used for pain in the back, neck, spine. When mixed with green clay, it is used to treat joints, relieve pain, relieve fatigue, and restore muscles and ligaments. Sometimes it is used internally.

Gray clay. Such clay can be found under the name blue, blue clay. Although in fact it is closer to gray. The gray color of the clay is due to the high content of silicon dioxide. Its in it about 60 percent.

Inside, gray clay is used for stomach problems associated with increased production of gastric juice and intestines. It also removes excess fluid and has an alkalizing effect. This clay is also an excellent adsorbent, perhaps even better than green clay.

Since it contains almost 60 percent silica and about 20 percent aluminum, gray clay has good anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used for treatment both internally and externally.

Pink clay. In general, this is not a separate type of clay, but a mixture of white and red clay. But it can often be seen in the pharmacy. This clay has a balanced composition of iron oxide, mineral salts and silica. It is used in the form of masks and is suitable for all skin types.

Red clay cleanses the skin of toxins and excess sebum secreted. White clay relieves irritation and dryness. In pink clay, these two properties are combined.

It well stimulates blood circulation, exfoliates and cleanses the skin.

This clay is often used to make homemade scrubs, powders and soaps.

How to apply clay

Unfortunately, we sell clay only in the form of a powder and as a cosmetic product. Although in the same Asian countries, you can find other commercial forms. But it is still important to know how to use clay for various purposes.

Clay can be applied both inside and topically on the skin in the form of masks, poultices, compresses, dry powder. It is added to the bath. In this case, clay can be of different grinding.

Clay with larger particles is used only in the bath, including foot baths, for large compresses or dressings. Fine clay can be used for the same purposes. But besides this, such clay can be used inside.

When treating clay, you can add essential oils to it, depending on the problem you want to solve.

clay for oral administration

Oral clay is usually prepared in the evening to drink on an empty stomach. To prepare the solution, you need to dilute a tablespoon of clay (without top, at the level of the edge of the spoon) in 3/4 cup of water.

Clay is stirred with a wooden spoon and, covered with a napkin or gauze, left until the morning.

At first, you can drink only that part of the water that is on top, leaving a clay sediment. The course of admission is 1 month. Clay water can be drunk with anemia, intestinal and gastric problems, to cleanse the body of toxins.

Dried clay in the form of sticks. Clay sticks are sold in India, China, South America. Use them for resorption, not for drinking.

Clay tablets. Essential oils can be added to such tablets. They are also dissipated. During the day, you can take up to 3 tablets. Course - 1 month.

External application. To prepare clay in the form of a poultice, it is mixed only in wooden, ceramic or glassware and a wooden spoon. Never use metal utensils.

For cosmetic purposes

Use the same utensils as for preparation for external use. Pour clay with mineral or purified water so that it is completely covered with water.

Leave for about an hour and then add the essential oil. The amount of clay and essential oil varies depending on the purpose of use. Stir only with a wooden spoon.

Next, apply clay to the face. If clay is used to treat skin diseases, then spread evenly on gauze or a napkin. Leave from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Fix the bandage so that it does not mix.

Clay treatment at home

The use of clay for healing is not a new practice. In some countries, it still occupies not the last place. Although clay is better known in our country and used for cosmetic purposes. Therefore, here are some recipes on how to use clay to treat certain diseases.

Circulatory disorders. Prepare a clay talker, in which you can add cypress essential oil, and apply to diseased veins. In addition to cypress, you can add essential oil of geranium, lemon, for example, 3 drops of geranium and 5 drops of lemon oil.

Intestinal spasms, colic, convulsions. Dilute the clay, but not liquid. Wrap in a napkin and heat in a water bath. Apply a compress to the abdomen. Do such a compress no earlier than half an hour after eating. Essential oils of Roman chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, fennel can be added to the clay in this proportion: 3 drops of chamomile, 2 drops of lavender and lemon balm, 3 drops of fennel.

With insomnia. Make a hot compress with clay in the area of ​​the spine and neck, adding 4 drops of bitter orange essential oil, 3 drops of Roman chamomile, 4 drops of lavender oil to it.

The use of clay in the form of a bandage. This is done when you need to apply clay to a large area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin. It is necessary to cut gauze or cloth corresponding to the width of the area on which the clay will be applied. Prepare a clay mash and soak a cloth in it.

At a temperature. At a temperature, a cold talker is made of clay. Add 2 drops of bergamot essential oil, 1 drop of mint and eucalyptus essential oils to the solution. Apply a moistened bandage to the forehead and leave for several hours.

With inflammation of the mouth and gums. For this, rinsing with a solution of clay is used, which is insisted for at least 2 hours. Stir the clay well before rinsing. After rinsing, rinse your mouth well with water.

Clay baths. Baths can be done either for the whole body, or just for the arms or legs. You can do a sitz bath. To prepare a bath, dilute 500 grams of clay in water. You can add an essential oil, depending on the purpose of use. Since clay can clog the drain, it is still best to do sitz baths or use a separate tub.

For rheumatism, add 8 drops of juniper essential oil and 2 drops of laurel oil to a clay bath.

For physical fatigue: 7 drops of rosemary essential oil and 2 drops of thyme oil.

You need to take baths for no more than 15-20 minutes and do them every other day.

Ointment with clay

To prepare the ointment, finely dispersed clay is used. You can dilute it with a decoction of medicinal herbs or hydrolate. Essential oils are also added. For medicinal ointments, green clay or bentonite is usually used. For cosmetics - white kaolin

Clay for the face. Clay masks

Clay is used in many cosmetic procedures: body wraps, scrubs, hair masks. But the most commonly used method is face masks.

To prepare a face mask, you need to mix 10 grams of clay with 10-15 ml of liquid (it can be herbal decoctions, just water or flower water). For oily skin, fruit or vegetable juices such as tomato, cucumber, lemon or orange juice can be used to dilute the clay. For dry and normal skin, milk, honey, olive or other cosmetic oil, egg yolks are suitable.

Mix to a paste. The mask is applied for 20-30 minutes and then washed off with warm water. After the mask, apply a moisturizer.

For oily skin, you can add 1 drop of lemon essential oil and 2 drops of lavender oil to the mask.

For dry skin, 1 drop of sweet orange and 2 drops of sandalwood.

Clay as a powder. Clay can be used as talc. It is great for treating ulcers, wounds, eczema, and is able to soothe just irritated red areas of the skin.

In addition, clay acts as a deodorant, absorbs excess fat, helps relieve irritation and heal.

Clay for cellulite

With puffiness of the skin, make such a compress: 5 drops of lemon juice, 4 drops of lemon balm essential oil, 2 drops of oregano oil. Apply a compress to the legs and buttocks.

In case of circulatory disorders: 4 drops of geranium essential oil, 4 drops of cypress oil, 3 drops of rosemary oil.

For thickened peel: 6 drops of bitter orange essential oil, 2 drops each of cedar and ginger oils.

The use of clay, even just for purely cosmetic purposes, will allow you to preserve the beauty of your skin for a long time and prolong youth.

Different types of clay can be mixed with each other. This will only enhance the mutual action of the clay.

Mankind has known the healing properties of clay for many centuries. In ancient times, it was used to make dishes, as well as for medical and cosmetic purposes. The Egyptians used clay for embalming, and scientists and doctors of the time mentioned its healing power. The famous Russian doctor Botkin successfully used it to treat diseases of the cardiovascular system, Graves' disease, and disorders of the nervous system. In the modern world, clay is used both in official and alternative medicine, it is used to solve cosmetic problems. As you can see, the applications of clay are extensive. In this article, we will analyze in more detail its medicinal properties.

Clay composition

What is clay? It is a fine-grained sedimentary rock, plastic when wet and pulverulent when dry. Clay contains montmorillonite minerals, kaolinite or other layered aluminosilicates. The mineral composition of the rock is so diverse that it can be compared almost with plant products (fruits and vegetables). It is able to destroy carcinogens and toxins, thereby cleansing the body. Also in the clay a large amount silicon and aluminum, it contains calcium, magnesium, iron oxide and other oxides, it also contains titanium anhydride.

Useful properties and benefits of clay for the body

• strengthens the immune system
• treats angina,
• eliminates digestive problems,
• removes toxins from the body,
• helps with rheumatism, pain in muscles and joints,
• strengthens teeth
• eliminates bleeding and inflammation of the gums,
• fights varicose veins and cellulite,
• treats skin diseases
• improves the condition of the skin, hair and nails.

Also, the healing properties of this breed are often resorted to in the treatment of atherosclerosis, tuberculosis and even multiple sclerosis, precisely due to the high content of silicon.

The size of clay particles play a role in its healing properties. They have enormous adsorption qualities, with a surface area of ​​about 80 square meters per gram. The size of the particles and their properties are directly related to the origin of the clay.

High adsorption allows clay to absorb toxins, putrefactive elements, harmful acids. It is used to treat tumors, both benign and malignant.

There is a theory that claims that with the help of clay it is possible to favorably influence the human biofield.

Types of cosmetic clay

Clay can be of different types depending on the color, which is determined by the high content of salts and other components in it. This determines the range of its application.

Clay contains large amounts of cobalt and cadmium. Most often it is used for medical purposes.

- potassium and iron. Thanks to these substances, it has a beneficial effect on the joints, muscles and spine. Typically used for applications.

Clay is a combination of silicon and aluminum oxides with the addition of water.

Clay is a product of mixing white and red clay.

AT green a lot of ferrous iron and copper. It is well suited for the treatment of tumors, diseases of the liver, pancreas. In addition, it is used to eliminate oily skin and hair.

AT black and dark brown lots of iron and carbon. It is used in the cosmetic industry.

AT yellow - sulfur, sodium, ferric iron. Compresses and applications for sore joints are made from it. It is also suitable for the treatment of skin rashes and cellulite.

Clay application

Natural breed is used in cosmetologists, medicine and everyday life.

Clay treatment at home

Most often, blue clay is used for medicinal purposes. Its external use occurs with radiculitis, arthritis, diseases of the muscles and tendons, with skin ailments, menstrual irregularities, prostatitis and colds. At the same time, it can be used for both chronic diseases and acute forms of diseases.

Clay is also used for lotions, wraps and rubbing. They put it on a sore spot with tiles 1.5-2 cm thick. It can be cold, warm or slightly heated, depending on the disease.

For example, warm clay is used in violation of the liver and joints. And if abscesses are treated, then it is best to apply compresses from clay water and replace them regularly.

The breed can also be used for douching for various diseases of the female genitourinary system. At the same time, she is taken 3-4 st. l. per 1 liter of water to be warmed up to body temperature.

There are cases of deterioration in the treatment with clay, but, as a rule, this does not require stopping treatment, but only indicates the release of toxins from the body.

In some cases, it is good to take baths with this product. It can help with rheumatism, arthritis and anemia. They are recommended in cases where radioactive baths are contraindicated for one reason or another.

Clay therapy is best done in combination with massage, contrast douches, sun and air baths, aromatherapy and foot reflexology.

There are methods of internal use of clay. To do this, it is best to take it in a whole piece, fatty, without impurities. By using it inside, atherosclerosis, ailments of the digestive system, kidneys, liver, gallbladder, blood and skin can be cured.

Benefits of clay balls

Clay balls are an excellent remedy for diseases of the oral cavity and toothache. They need to be sucked and rolled in the mouth.

The use of clay in cosmetology

Clay is also widely used in the cosmetics industry. It is used for whole body care, preparation of cleansing and rejuvenating masks.

You can make such a mask with your own hands by mixing it to a paste with cucumber juice and water. Apply the resulting mass on the skin of the face and leave until completely dry. Wash off with warm water. Such a mask will have a cleansing, nourishing and tightening effect. But don't do it more than once a week.

Clay at home

Clay is good for cleaning water. To do this, take one piece per 1 liter of water. After that, the container with water must be set aside and allowed to stand for a couple of hours. Be sure - clay absorbs all toxins and toxic substances.

Clay for crop storage

Many gardeners, before laying carrots, potatoes, dip the fruits in a clay mash for storage. Then, after drying, a protective film is created around the vegetable. Practice shows that the harvest processed in this way is stored longer.

As you can see, the use of clay has a lot of options and possibilities. Its healing properties allow you to treat many diseases. It has practically no contraindications, and therefore it is successfully used in various branches of medical science, it preserves the harvest, and it can also take care of the beauty of your skin. Conclusion - clay has many faces and is certainly useful!

How to nourish the skin with minerals and remove dead skin scales from it. Clay face mask

The art of making vessels and other household items from clay can be considered the most ancient, which became one of the first types of technical production. What could be more common than clay! Meanwhile, its role in people's lives is great and is associated with its unusual properties. The observant mind of man drew attention to them in ancient times. Clay fired in a fire is the first artificial material obtained by man. The properties of this material were revealed to man gradually. Until now, a third of humanity lives in adobe helishes. And that's not counting the houses made of burnt bricks. Not only walls are made of clay, but also hearths with roofs. To increase the strength of such an adobe floor, salt water is poured over it from time to time. Cuneiform writing, which first appeared in Mesopotamia, was pressed out on thin clay tablets. Yes, and the complex composition of modern paper necessarily includes white clay.

Clay has been used since ancient times as a remedy. Stretching of the frail was treated with a plaster of yellow clay diluted in vinegar. And for pain in the lower back and joints, clay diluted with hot water with the addition of kerosene was applied to sore spots. Healers preferred to use oven clay during divination. She was treated for the evil eye or fever. Small clay pots (makhotki) were placed on the body for colds like medical jars. They even did “brick inhalations”, heating a brick into a cure, pouring onion peel on top of it, and inhaling the smoke. And sprinkling such a brick with wormwood or juniper, they scared away flies and mosquitoes.

They even ate clay. The inhabitants of the North still eat "terrestrial fat" - white clay. It is eaten with reindeer milk or added to meat broth. Yes, and in Europe they prepared a delicacy like sweets from clay. There is an old Russian riddle: “I was on a kopanets, I was on a topavda, I was on a circle, I was on a fire, I was on a fire. When he was young. then he fed the people, but the old herds began to swaddle. Until recently, any villager would have quickly figured it out. It's just an ordinary oven pot. And the riddle itself tells in detail his “life path”. “Kopantsy” in Russian villages was called pits where clay was mined. The potters respectfully spoke of her: “alive”. The “living raft” found in nature is so diverse in composition that you can find a ready-made mixture for making any kind of ceramics.
Naturally, if deposits of valuable types of clay are found, pottery production quickly grows around them. So, for example, it happened in Gzhel near Moscow, where white clay was found.

Clay, unlike sand, which filters moisture, absorbs it to failure, not passing it deeper. When mixed with water, the clay becomes a plastic "dough" that can be molded into any shape. After drying, it retains the shape given to the "dough" and after firing it becomes hard as a stone. Clay is a product of the destruction of rocks. The process of clay formation is going on all the time, but there was a time when the formation of clay took place on a gigantic scale. This phenomenon dates back to time immemorial, to the glacial and diluvial periods, when the mechanical part of the work of destroying rocks was performed by glaciers moving into the plain. The composition of any clay includes alumina, i.e. alumina, and silica, and minor impurities can be various alkalis, lime, magnesia, iron oxides and titanic acid.

There are clays consisting mainly of one mineral (for example, kaolinite refractory clays - kaolins), but much more often they are polymineral, being a mixture of the minerals kaolinite, halloysite and montmorillonite. The rocks that preceded the clays consisted mainly of feldspars and micas. Spars are found in all three types of rocks on Earth - igneous metamorphic and sedimentary. Solidified magmas - granites, pegmatites - the ancestors of the clay mineral kaolinite. Halloysite was usually preceded by diabases and gabbro; montmorillonite is a decomposition product of volcanic ash, tuffs and lavas. ??The parent rocks of clays have been destroyed, decomposed, weathered for thousands of years, turning into fragments, scree and, finally, into the smallest particles. Sometimes they stayed at the place of their education.

This is how "primary", "residual" clay deposits appeared, usually thick (up to a hundred meters or more), occupying large areas. They mainly consist of kaolin ("Kaolin" is a distorted Chinese word "gao lin", i.e. "high hill"; this is the name of the village in China where these clays were first mined). From these clays, which form a light shard during firing, they make fine ceramics - porcelain and faience. But more often rivers, winds, moving glaciers carry clay materials over long distances. Gradually they settle in stagnant waters. The settled silty layers are homogeneous in their structure. On the way, they are subjected to natural "elutriation", enrichment, release from undecomposed rocks and impurities. Such deposits (most of them) are layered, their thickness is relatively small, and the area of ​​occurrence is different.

These ubiquitous, shallow Quaternary clays are commonly used to make pottery and building bricks. ??Sometimes clay particles manage to avoid encounters with water streams containing substances that usually pollute clay. In this case, deposits of pure, highly refractory, low-iron clays are formed. They go to ceramic products with special properties used in special industries. Climatic zoning was revealed both in ancient and modern deposits of clay minerals. Minerals such as hydromica and chlorite predominate in the Arctic ice zone, montmorillonite in the moderately humid, cold zone, and kaolinite in the tropical zone. ??Another amazing property of baked clay was discovered by scientists. It was found that during the firing of clay products, they become magnetized, fixing the features of the Earth's geomagnetic field at that moment in time. Knowing the geomagnetic field of our planet in ancient times, the age of ceramics can be established with an accuracy of twenty-five years. Archaeologists are helped in this by petrography, microscopy, spectral analysis, and x-rays.

Pliny the Elder in the 1st century n. e. in his "Natural History" he distinguished white clay (argilla) from ordinary, ordinary clay (lutum) and from simple soil (terra). In ancient Greek, the word "keramos" originally meant clay, it is mentioned by Homer in the "Iliad" (8th century BC). In the Old Slavic language, the word "clay" was not, but there was the word "brnie", denoting clay mixed with water, which is probably where the name of the Czech city Brno comes from. The concept of "potter" in Old Slavonic was denoted by the word "zdun", the root "zd" still forms such words as creator, create, building. The word "clay" has a later origin, probably from the word "clay" - alumina (alumina), which is part of any clay. Clay on our planet arose long ago, during the interglacial period, which was accompanied for many millennia by the melting of the ice cover, which had a thickness of up to 2 km in Europe. The melting caused powerful water currents that did the work of claying. They elutriated, moved and redeposited clay and sand, which led to their mixing. These processes are associated with the formation of numerous in Europe, in particular in Russia, clay deposits with different properties, which is not observed on other continents.

If we approach clay from a scientific point of view, then it is a dispersed, that is, consisting of solid particles of different sizes, sedimentary rock of lamellar minerals, in terms of chemical composition - hydroaluminosilicates, and related impurities of other minerals. Well, what is "hydro" - of course, "alumo", probably, too, and silicates are compounds of silicon with oxygen. Lamellar minerals, when interacting with water, make clay plastic, capable of being molded and retaining its shape when dried. Impurity minerals such as quartz (sand), carbonates (chalk, marble, limestone, dolomite, magnesite) and feldspar (the most common feldspar rocks are granites) are non-plastic, and their presence "thinns" the clay, reduces its plasticity. There are a number of classifications of clays according to their chemical and mineralogical composition, origin, and application, but none of them covers the entire set of features useful in determining the suitability of clay raw materials for a particular production.

The division of clays accepted in geology:
a) transported by water, glacier, wind (secondarily deposited);
b) remaining at the place of formation (primary clays);
c) metamorphosed stone-like rocks.
In the classification scheme according to GOST 9169-59, clay raw materials are divided into four groups: kaolins, clays, crackers (refractory stone-like clays) and shale clays (poorly soaked in water). These groups are divided into subgroups:
a) according to the content of aluminum oxide in the calcined state (more than 40% - highly basic, from 40 to 30% - basic, from 30 to 15% - semi-acidic, less than 15% - acidic);
b) by fire resistance (refractory - melting at a temperature of 1580 ° C and above; refractory - melting from 1580 to 1350 ° C, and fusible - melting below 1350 ° C);
c) according to the degree of cohesion or plasticity (forming a moldable dough with the addition of normal sand: more than 50% - binders, from 50 to 20% - plastic, less than 20% - lean; not forming a dough at all).

Along with those considered, there is an industrial classification of clays, based on their assessment by a combination of certain characteristics, such as color and appearance after firing, sintering-melting interval, impact strength of the product, and resistance to sudden changes in temperature. These features determine the industrial purpose and name of clays. Already in the Middle Ages, such names of clays as brick, pipe, tile, pottery, faience, white-burning, clinker and others have developed and still exist. Then clays, by the way, were evaluated only by touch, and their properties were accessible to the assessment of the masters of the Middle Ages. And now, I think, it’s not a sin to return to such an assessment of clay, since direct contact with the material at the very beginning of work connects the master and clay into one, allows them to feel each other, because if the tool is an extension of the potter’s hands, then the product is an extension of his soul. So, the clay used in pottery should be heavy, oily, elastic, in general, with a solid character - it must keep its shape. The color of the clay can be red, brown, blue, green, gray or white. Sometimes there are clays of chocolate (so-called snickers) or dirty black color. But I do not advise dealing with them, because during firing, organic impurities, a large amount of which gives them a dark color, give such a spirit that you can even endure the saints. The clay is colored by alumina, iron oxide and titanium oxide. If the oxides of iron and titanium do not exceed 1 percent in total, then the clay is white even after firing, but if they are more than 1 percent, then the clay is red after firing, despite the fact that it is green or blue in its raw form.

Quartz (sand) is usually present in clay deposits in the form of rounded colorless or colored grains. Its amount in clays can be different - from a few percent to several tens of percent. Sand, which is added to pottery clay to thin it out, must be ground (otherwise the clay will rub hands like sandpaper), and its amount should not exceed 25 percent (optimally - 15%). As ground sand is added (up to 15%), the plasticity of pottery clay increases, further addition of sand reduces plasticity. The amount of sand in the clay also affects the shrinkage of the product during firing. Therefore, if you want to reduce the shrinkage of clay during drying, which in turn will reduce unnecessary deformation of products and save you from insidious cracks at the bottom of large-diameter vessels, then add up to 25 percent of sand or ground fired shards to the clay. In ancient Greece, for example, gruss was added to clay, which was nothing more than crushed granite. Quite often, especially in low-quality clays, there are impurities of calcium and magnesium carbonates (chalk and dolomite) in the form of large and small grains. They are useful and harmful at the same time. I will say a few words about the dual role of these impurities in the firing of ceramics. In a finely dispersed state, these impurities are strong fluxes (additives that reduce the sintering temperature), but at the same time, at firing temperatures up to 1000°C, they reduce the strength of ceramics, and deformation of products is observed at higher firing temperatures. The content of chalk in pottery clay can reach 25 percent, but this requires its uniform distribution and very fine grinding. If carbonates are present in the clay in the form of large inclusions, then the calcium and magnesium oxides remaining after firing begin to absorb moisture from the air, form hydroxides, increase in volume and, in the end, can break the product. These harmful inclusions are called "dutiks".

Quite common impurities in clay are gypsum and pyrite. They are visible after firing in the form of small black "flies". Pyrite in clay is crystals with a metallic yellowish sheen, gypsum sometimes forms clusters of large crystals visible to the eye. You can only remove them manually. A harmful impurity in clays are also soluble salts - sulfates and chlorides, which form the so-called efflorescence on products. Soluble salts act as a salt coating on the surface of fired clay products. To combat "fading", it is recommended to introduce barium carbonate into the composition of the clay. In the conditions of a small pottery workshop, it is better to deal with this trouble with the correct firing mode. "Fade" is formed mainly at a temperature of 400-500°C, so it is recommended to quickly raise the temperature to 600°C. In some cases, the presence of carbonaceous materials in clay and reducing firing in the range of 700-800°C will be suitable for the decomposition of "efflorescences".

Organic impurities, as a rule, burn out during firing and leave almost no traces on the surface of products, except for small shells formed during the combustion of wood particles. (However, this property is used when decorating products. For example, grains of rice, wheat, or even peas embedded in the surface of products after firing will leave a characteristic mark.) A large amount of organic carbon in clay can create a local reducing environment during firing, which contributes to earlier sintering clay and with a thick layer (brick, for example) can give the crock local deformation and undesirable coloring. The composition and pottery qualities of clay are finally clarified only after the manufacture and firing of a trial product. The easiest way is to purchase clay at a specialized plant or directly in a quarry of some deposit. At factories, it is sold in two types: quarry - brought directly from the place of extraction, which means that it requires appropriate processing, or in powder. The powder is a mixture ready to work. It remains only to close it with water. The powder, of course, is more expensive, but by purchasing it, you will save time on cleaning the clay. The composition of clay powder purchased at factories for the production of ceramic tiles and bricks contains 10-12 percent ground glass, which will give strength to future products. But the pottery properties of clay prepared from such a powder are somewhat reduced due to the presence of the same glass.

Currently, organizations have appeared in large cities that sell ready-made pottery clay. There you can buy clay of any composition, small and large chamotte, gypsum, ready-made glaze and other materials necessary for a potter. But if this is not possible, then the required clay can, in principle, be found anywhere, for example, on a steep hillside. Clay can even be found along roadsides or, best of all, along the banks of swamps or small pools, which are formed because rain or spring water enters the clay bowl. The desired clay (usually blue or green) lies either immediately under the turf, or at a depth in a layer of varying thickness. This clay, like quarry clay, requires careful preparation. It must be dried, first broken into small pieces. Sufficient time must be spent on this drying. When the clay is completely dry, fill it with water and preferably hot. Water is needed so much that only individual islands of clay remain on its surface. After swelling, the mass must be laid out on a table covered with canvas or any other coarse cloth. Wait until the clay is free of excess water and acquires the moisture necessary for work. When drying clay, it must be periodically turned over and, preferably, kneaded.

The main quality of potter's clay is that it must be clean, that is, not have any inclusions. Of course, some result can be achieved using any clay, but it is unlikely that the products will be of high quality. For a good craftsman, a small pebble or even a large grain of sand can be commensurate with the thickness of the vessel wall and interfere with work. You can clean pottery clay with your hands (which is inefficient, but quite realistic at home) or by pushing it in a plastic state through a fine mesh, as if imitating an industrial filter press. You can also elutriate the clay in a barrel for the purpose of purification, that is, dilute it to a slip (the state of liquid sour cream) and wait for large heavy inclusions to settle to the bottom. After that, the pure fraction is drained, making a hole in the barrel at the level of the beginning of the pure slip, and dried to the desired state.

Now we need to talk a little more about the relationship of clay with water. Despite the fact that their characters are similar, it is very easy to quarrel them, and then do not expect good things. If you overdo it when mixing the clay and pour in too much water, it will be difficult to remove. Clay dough will be uneven, with lumps. Clay, being a hygroscopic substance, adsorbs moisture from the air, is wetted by water and is able to swell in a state of strong watering. Moisture adsorbed by clay is called strongly bound water, in contrast to loosely bound water, which is located between clay particles more freely, movably and squeezed out of the clay during compression. Strongly bound water makes up 0.8-1.0 percent of the moisture content of kaolin, freezes at temperatures well below zero, and almost does not conduct electricity. Strongly bound water naturally turns into loosely bound water, which becomes the greater, the closer the state of the clay approaches the working water content, that is, to such a state of clay and water when the clay mass shows the optimum of its plasticity and its ability to be molded. With the right moisture content, the clay mass does not stick to the back of the hand. This working water content is different for different clays; for example, in loess it is 18-20 percent, in kaolins - 28-31 percent, in spondyl clay - 31-33 percent, in clock-yarskaya - 30-32 percent, in troshkovsky - 30-36 percent. With a further increase in water content, the clay loses its ability to retain its shape and begins to flow like a viscous liquid.

This information about the properties of clay is enough to start working with it. In general, one can talk about the properties of clay for a very long time, there are more than thirty names of clays alone, and each of them has a dozen combinations with various additives. When the clay is freed from excess water and acquires the moisture necessary for work, that is, it will be kneaded with effort in the hands, it must be properly kneaded and put in a plastic bag, and the bag - in a barrel with a tight lid, where it should lie for a while before starting work. less than a day, and better - a few days. However, clay can be in a barrel for a long time - all the time until you use it up. Many craftsmen adapt various mechanisms to mine clay, for example, industrial meat grinders. Similar "mechanization" can be applied to other stages of clay preparation. And another very important point. Just before you start working with clay, you need to knead it again properly, tearing the lump of clay into two parts and connecting them back with force. In this way, you can get rid of most of the air - the last and most insidious enemy of the potter. Firstly, when pulling the vessel on the potter's wheel, the hands will fall into the air pockets, and you can tear the product or tear it off the wheel. And secondly, the air pockets remaining in the clay can break the product during firing, since air, as you know, expands when heated. In industrial production, air is released using a vacuum press.

Clay is a very common rock. Complex, both in composition and in physical and technological properties. Pure rock consists of complex chemical compounds - "clay" minerals, which include aluminum, silicon and water. In mineralogy, they are called hydrous aluminosilicates.

The property of clay depends on its chemical and mineral composition. Earthy rock - clay easily dissolves in water, forming "suspensions" (turbidity) or plastic dough, which retains its shape after drying and acquires the hardness of a stone after firing. Also, another property of clay can be considered "sorption" - the ability to absorb some substances dissolved in it from a liquid. Since clay contains a large amount of aluminum oxide, it is used as a chemical raw material for the production of sulfate salts.

Characteristics and types

All existing clay for ease of use was divided into the following types:

• Kaolin- the most popular type, white, consisting of the mineral kaolinite. It is used in the porcelain and faience and paper industry.
• Fire-clay, available in white or grey. During firing, it withstands a temperature of approximately 1580 °. The composition includes minerals of kaolinite and hydromica. Used to make refractory cookware.
• Acid-resistant clay is a type of refractory clay, which includes iron, magnesium, calcium and sulfur.
• molding clay- possesses the increased plasticity and binding ability. Used as a fastening material in the manufacture of containers for metallurgical castings.
• cement clay has a rich color palette. Included in Portland cement.
• brick clay- fusible, the composition includes a significant admixture of quartz sand. Widely used in brick production.
• bentonite clay- the main forming mineral is montmorillonite. Rich color range. It has the highest whitening power. This type is indispensable for the purification of petroleum products, vegetable and lubricating oils.
• Mineral natural clay- used in medicine and cosmetology

(The picture shows a variety of cosmetic clay)

In industrial practice, clay is divided into "fat" and "lean" groups. It all depends on the degree of contamination of their quartz sand. There is not much sand in "fat" clays, but in "skinny" clays there is a large amount of it.

Field and production

Clay is widespread in nature, occurs at shallow depths. All this contributes to low production costs, making raw materials cheap. Usually, brick and tile factories are built on the clay deposit itself. The largest deposits of clay are located on the territory of Ukraine and Russia. Relatively small accumulations of rocks are found in Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and other CIS countries.

Clay application

Clay can be attributed to the mineral raw materials of mass consumption. It is used in a wide variety of industries, for example, in the household, where dishes and other products are made. In construction, for the production of building bricks of any color and cement. And also in industry: soap making, perfumery, textiles and many others.

Factories use a certain type of clay to purify petroleum products, vegetable oils and fats. Clay is indispensable in art, plastic colored clay is an excellent material for creating sculptures. It has earned wide popularity in agriculture: for laying stoves, clay ceilings, whitewashing walls, etc.

Clay - one of the oldest building materials used in construction to this day. The property of this natural material to harden under certain conditions allows it to be used for various purposes in the construction of buildings for various purposes - both residential and commercial. From clay make load-bearing structures adobe walls ), a mortar for laying stoves is started on it (the oven brick itself is actually made from it), it is used as a heater, and the walls are also plastered with clay. Due to the fact that this natural and environmentally friendly material can be widely used in construction , we decided to prepare an article on the use of clay for construction purposes.

A little about clay

Clay - fine-grained sedimentary rock, powdery in a dry state, plastic when moistened. Clay consists of one or more minerals of the kaolinite group (derived from the name of the area Kaolin in China), montmorillonite or other layered aluminosilicates (clay minerals), but may contain both sand and carbonate particles. As a rule, the rock-forming mineral in clay is kaolinite, its composition is 47% silicon (IV) oxide (SiO2), 39% aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and 14% water (H2O).

Al2O3 and SiO2 - make up a significant part of the chemical composition of clay-forming minerals.

Clay particle diameter less than 0.005 mm; rocks consisting of larger particles are commonly classified as loess. Most of the clays are gray, but there are clays of white, red, yellow, brown, blue, green, purple and even black. The color is due to impurities of ions - chromophores, mainly iron in valence 3 (red, yellow) or 2 (green, bluish).

The main source of clayey rocks is feldspar, during the decay of which, under the influence of atmospheric phenomena, kaolinite and other aluminum silicate hydrates are formed. Some clays of sedimentary origin are formed in the process of local accumulation of the mentioned minerals, but most of them are deposits of water flows that have fallen to the bottom of lakes and seas.

Clay - is a secondary product of the earth's crust, sedimentary rock formed as a result of the destruction of rocks in the process of weathering (ru.wikipedia.org).

adobe construction

What is adobe ? The term itself comes from the Turkic "straw". It means adobe as a building material made of clay soil dried in the open air.

Even in the relatively recent past, this material was quite widespread in the world. To this day, adobe buildings are ubiquitous in Asia, Europe, and Russia.

Although it is now common practice to use modern materials that are considered stronger and more durable, there is living evidence that many modern materials are largely inferior in strength to mud houses.

For example, on the website www.subscribe.ru in the article "adobe construction" there is evidence that the participants in the war in Afghanistan testified that when a direct fire from a tank hit an adobe wall, it did not collapse, but only a trace remained.

Now a little about how to make adobe. The website www.subscribe.ru provides the following information about this: The ground underfoot is the main source of material for construction. Sand and clay lie almost everywhere. For the mixture, you always also need a sufficiently long, strong, dry straw. The ideal mixture contains a lot of coarse sand and some clay.

Clay you need just enough to glue sand and straw, approximately in a ratio of 3 or 4 to 1, sand to clay.

Most soils are a mixture of sand, clay and other impurities. You need to understand your soil and work with it.

Silt for adobe does not fit. Avoid soils with more than a small amount of silt. Silt reduces the stickiness of clay and is not strong in compression. Clay differs significantly from silt. Clays dry out linearly by 5-15%, so they crack if not mixed with a lot of sand and straw. When the clay dries in the space between the coarse grains of sand, it binds them tightly together. The result is a surprisingly durable material - adobe.

Of course, this is just a summary of how to make adobe. If you want to cook it correctly and professionally, then the question of finding and selecting materials, as well as drawing up proportions, should be studied more carefully. Fortunately, online resources allow you to do this without much difficulty.

Using clay for laying stoves

Clay is the main material for the preparation of mortar for laying furnaces. The quality of this solution has a direct impact on the quality of the masonry, and hence the stove.

On how to properly prepare the solution, we will provide information from the book of A.M. Shepeleva “How to build a rural house”: “Properly prepared clay mortar does not crack, firmly binds bricks together and does not crumble. Cracks in the seams of the masonry disrupt the normal operation of the furnace.

The thickness of the seams affects the strength of the masonry. The seams should be 3 mm thick (as an exception - 5 mm). The less clay and more bricks in the kiln, the higher the quality of the kiln masonry. That is why, when preparing a clay solution, it is advisable to separately sift clay and sand through sieves with holes no larger than 3x3mm, and then strain the solution again.

The dose of sand added to clay depends on the fat content of the latter: fatter clay - more sand, and vice versa.

Clay for the solution must be well soaked and rinsed. They do it like this. They take a large strong box or barrel, fill it 1/3 of the volume with clay, fill it with water, mix thoroughly and leave for a day or more. Then everything is mixed and, if necessary, water is added. The resulting clay milk is filtered on a sieve with holes no larger than 3 × 3 mm into another container. The remaining lumps are again filled with water, kneaded, clay is added, etc.

The water remaining from the clay milk is drained, using it when the next portion of the clay is soaked. settled clay should have the thickness of sour cream.

Having prepared the right amount of clay, determine its fat content and the need for sand. To do this, take some one volumetric part of strained clay (for example, a can of canned food) and pour it into a bucket. With the same measure, 3 parts of sand are measured, added in small portions to clay and everything is mixed with an oar or a stick. If the solution strongly envelops the paddle (stick) - it is greasy and you need to add sand. If separate clots stick to the oar (stick), the solution is of normal fat content and is suitable for masonry. By measuring the “remaining sand, the fat content of the clay is determined, or rather the need for sand. For example, 0.5 cans of sand remained, which means that to prepare a solution with a normal fat content, 2.5 parts of sand are required for 1 part of clay (composition 1: 2.5).

Thus, depending on the quality of the clay, one volume part may require from 0.5 to 3 or more parts of sand.

The mortar, normal in fat content, does not crack, firmly binds the bricks together; a greasy solution cracks badly, and a lean one is fragile.

The quality of the solution can be checked like this. A ball 5 cm in diameter is rolled from the thick solution and a cake 1 cm thick and 10 cm in diameter is made. Both are dried at normal room temperature. After drying, they should not crack, and the ball should not crumble when falling from a height of 1 m. In this case, the solution is suitable for masonry.

Prepare the solution on a striker or in a box. To do this, a measured portion of sand is poured in a bed, a recess is made in it, a portion of the prepared clay dough is poured and everything is mixed until completely homogeneous. If necessary, water is added, obtaining a creamy mass that easily slides off an iron shovel, but does not spread over it. When feeling between the fingers, a continuous rough layer of sand grains should be felt, and not slippery clay with scattered grains of sand.

During laying, the clay mortar should be such that, with a slight pressure on it with a brick moistened with water, it easily squeezes out the overly applied mortar from the seam.

For laying 1000 bricks with seams up to 5 mm thick, 250 liters of strained mortar are required.

The time spent straining the solution is more than paid off by the convenience in work.

Using clay as insulation

Clay also used as a heater. Most often it is used to insulate the ceiling. To obtain high-quality insulation, in addition to clay, sawdust is used.

The site www.domoustroi.ru provides the following information on the insulation of ceilings in this way: The ceiling made of clay and sawdust is characterized by good heat resistance, ease of manufacture, light weight, fire-fighting quality and affordability.

To insulate the ceiling and make the ceiling out of clay and sawdust, you should first purchase clay and sawdust. It is not difficult to purchase sawdust now, as they are even distributed free of charge by self-delivery at woodworking enterprises. Even if you have to buy sawdust, their cost will be negligible compared to other ceiling materials. Clay will be a little more expensive, but you need very little of it, so you can get it yourself.

So, to begin with, we will prepare the ceiling for the future ceiling.

Since the mixture of clay and sand will be liquid, it is necessary to lay something waterproof on the ceiling boards. You can take an ordinary film and shoot it to a tree with an ordinary construction stapler. Some cover the cardboard under the film. The cardboard has a corrugated layer between the flat layers, this gives additional insulation, but the ceiling becomes more fire hazardous.

After the ceiling is covered with a film, you can start mixing the clay-sawdust mortar.

To do this, fill a full barrel with water and pour four or five buckets of clay into it. The clay should soften.

Stir the clay in the barrel until it dissolves as much as possible. The water should acquire a characteristic dirty color. Next, pour a couple of buckets of the resulting mixture of clay and water into the concrete mixer and fill it with sawdust. We must not forget to add clay water as the sawdust is mixed. The consistency should not be thick or runny.

Next, after mixing the solution, apply it to the ceiling in an even layer of 5-10 cm, depending on the required insulation, and smooth it slightly by tamping. After a few days, the ceiling should dry out, and if small cracks appear, then it is easiest to wipe them with simple clay, although you can leave it like that, because the cracks will be minor.

In this article, we looked at various uses for clay, namely: wall construction , preparation of mortar for laying furnaces and ceiling insulation . In all these cases, clay is an effective building material. In conclusion, it should be noted that these are not all the options for using clay in construction, for example, it is used in the production of expanded clay and cement, so this natural material, without any exaggeration, justifies the title of this article: "Clay is a universal natural material for construction."

The article was prepared by Evgeny IZMAILOV,

photo srubnbrus.com