Clay is an interesting and diverse material in its properties, which is formed as a result of the destruction of rocks. Many, dealing with this plastic substance, think: what does clay consist of? Let's find out the answer to this question, and also figure out how this natural material can be useful to a person.
What is clay, what substance does it consist of
Clay is a sedimentary rock, fine-grained in its structure. In a dry state, it is often dusty, and if it is moistened, it becomes a plastic and pliable material that takes any shape. When solidified, the clay becomes solid, its shape does not change.
The mineral composition of clays of different types, although different, necessarily contains substances of the kaolinite and montmorillonite groups or other layered aluminosilicates. Clay may also contain other impurities, carbonate and sand particles.
Typical composition of this substance looks like this:
- kaolinite – 47%;
- aluminum oxide – 39%;
- water - 14%.
This is not all the components of clay. Mineral inclusions - halloysite, diaspore, hydrargillite, corundum, monothermite, muscovite and others - are also present in different quantities. The following minerals can pollute clays and kaolins: quartz, dolomite, gypsum, magnetite, pyrite, limonite, marcasite.
Types of clays
What clay consists of depends largely on the place and method of its formation. Depending on this, they distinguish:
1. Sedimentary clays are the result of the transfer of natural weathering products and their deposition in a particular place. They are marine - born at the bottom of the seas and oceans and continental - formed on the mainland. Sea clays, in turn, are divided into:
- offshore;
- lagoon;
- coastal.
2. Residual clays are formed during the weathering of non-plastic rocks and their transformation into plastic kaolins. The study of such residual deposits can show a smooth transition of clay into the parent rock with a change in height.
Properties of clay
Regardless of what substance clay is made of and where it was formed, there are characteristic properties that distinguish it from other natural materials.
Dry clay has a dusty texture. If it is frozen in lumps, it crumbles easily. This material quickly gets wet, absorbs water, as a result of which it swells. At the same time, the clay acquires water resistance - the ability to not let liquid through.
The main feature of clay is its plasticity - the ability to easily take on any shape. Depending on this ability, clay can be classified into "fat" - which is characterized by increased plasticity, and "lean" - diluted with other substances and gradually losing this property.
Plastic clay is characterized by stickiness and viscosity. This property is widely used in construction. Think about what the building mixture consists of? Clay is an essential component of any joint mortar.
Distribution on the planet
Clay is a very common material on Earth, and therefore inexpensive. There are a lot of clay deposits in any area. On the sea coasts, you can see clay heaps, which used to be solid rocks. The banks and bottom of rivers and lakes are often covered with a layer of clay. If a forest trail or dirt road has a brown or red tint, then it is most likely also made up of residual clay.
In the industrial production of clay, open-cast mining is used. To get to the deposits of a useful substance, first they remove the top layer of soil, and then they take out the fossils. At different depths, clay layers may differ in composition and properties.
Human use of clay
As already mentioned, most often clay is used in construction. Everyone knows that the usual material for the construction of structures is bricks. What are they made of? sand and clay- these are the main components of the test, which under the influence of high temperatures becomes hard and turns into a brick. To prevent the wall from crumbling apart, a viscous solution is used, which also contains clay.
A mixture of clay and water becomes a raw material for pottery production. Mankind has long since learned to produce vases, bowls, jugs and other containers from clay. They can have different sizes and shapes. Previously, pottery was necessary and widespread, and clay products became the only accessories used in everyday life and a very hot commodity in the markets.
Clay is widely used in medicine and cosmetology. Those who care about the beauty and he alth of the skin are aware of the beneficial effects of certain types of this substance. Clay is used for wraps, masks and lotions. It effectively fights cellulite, gives the skin elasticity, and prevents premature aging. For some medical indications, clay is even used orally. And in case of skin diseases, dried and powdered material is prescribed in the form of powders. It is important to mention that not any clay is used for such purposes, but only some of its types, which have antiseptic and antimicrobial properties.
What is polymer clay
Now pottery is not such a common hobby as in the old days, but modeling from polymer clay is becoming popular. Some people think that polymer clay is a variation of ordinary natural clay. Trulywhether such a judgment? Let's figure out what polymer clay is, what it consists of and how it is used by humans.
Polymer clay is a plastic material that hardens in air or when exposed to high temperatures. We most often hear about the use of polymer clay in needlework, but it can also be used in the production of plastic windows, kitchen utensils, etc.
Polymer clay makes it easy to imitate the texture of other materials such as wood or stone. From this plastic substance, you can independently make souvenirs, Christmas decorations, jewelry, interior decorations, key rings and much more. Such handmade products will be an excellent gift, they can be stored for a long time, without losing their attractive appearance and original shape.
What is polymer clay made of? Homemade recipe
Needlewomen, who were interested in the process of making such bright souvenirs, probably thought about how to make polymer clay on their own. This is a very real challenge. Naturally, the resulting material will not be identical to the factory polymer clay, but if properly manufactured, its properties will not be inferior in any way.
Required Components:
- PVA glue - 1 cup;
- corn starch - 1 cup;
- non-greasy silicone-free hand cream - 1 tablespoon;
- Vaseline - 1 tablespoon;
- lemon juice - 2 tablespoons.
That's all clay is made offor modeling, which we will prepare at home.
Starch, glue and Vaseline mix thoroughly, add lemon juice and mix again until a homogeneous mass is obtained. We put in the microwave for 30 seconds, mix and send it there for another 30 seconds. The crust that has formed on the surface must be removed and discarded, and the elastic mass put on a tray smeared with hand cream and knead vigorously for 5 minutes. After cooling, our polymer clay is ready to use.
By learning how to make polymer clay yourself, you can save on expensive purchased material and, without limiting yourself, learn an interesting, creative activity.
Clay is an interesting and diverse material in its properties, which is formed as a result of the destruction of rocks. Many, dealing with this plastic substance, think: what does clay consist of? Let's find out the answer to this question, and also figure out how this natural material can be useful to a person.
