Glaze material · Fluxes, feldspars & frits
Barium carbonate
An alkaline-earth flux, mostly active at high temperature; makes satin mattes.
In published recipes
Used in 948 of 10,859 glaze recipes (8.7%)
Typical amount when present
12% of the dry batch — half of recipes fall between 5% and 24%.
Fired surface of those recipes
Glossy 43% · Matte 33% · Satin matte 14% · Semi-glossy 11%
Most often mixed with
Materials that appear in the same recipes most often.
Chemistry
- Raw formula
- BaCO3
- Molecular weight
- 197
- Fired formula
- BaO
- Equivalent weight
- 197
From Linda Arbuckle's materials table. Mineral formulas are idealized; buy an analysis for the bag you have. Equivalent weight is the weight that supplies one molecule of the fired oxide — the number glaze calculation uses.
What potters should know
High barium plus copper gives the famous matte blues. Because it can leach from high-barium or unstable glazes it is not suggested for food surfaces; strontium carbonate is the usual less-toxic stand-in (about 0.75 parts per part of barium).
Handling and safety
Contains barium carbonate. Toxic in raw form and may leach from high-barium matte glazes; food-safety testing recommended before functional use.
Dry ceramic materials generate respirable silica dust. Use a NIOSH-approved N95 or P100 respirator and adequate ventilation when mixing dry, and wet-clean surfaces.
This information is provided for planning purposes and is derived from publicly available sources including OSHA regulations, NIOSH guidance, and manufacturer safety data sheets. It does not constitute professional safety advice. Consult your material suppliers' SDS documents and applicable local regulations for authoritative safety guidance.
Questions
- How much Barium carbonate do potters use in a glaze?
- Across 948 published glaze recipes containing it, the typical amount is 12% of the dry batch, with half of recipes between 5% and 24%. Colorants and additives sit far lower than fluxes and glass formers; treat these as a range to test around, not a target.
- What cone is Barium carbonate used at?
- It appears in recipes across the range; the most common cones among published recipes are cone 10, cone 6, cone 9. Where a material sits depends on the rest of the recipe more than on the material itself.
- Is Barium carbonate safe to use?
- It carries a specific hazard flag: Contains barium carbonate. Toxic in raw form and may leach from high-barium matte glazes; food-safety testing recommended before functional use. Read the supplier's SDS and follow local rules before using it, and never assume a glaze is food-safe without testing.
Related materials
| Glaze material | recipes | typical |
|---|---|---|
| Strontium carbonate | 757 | 12% |
Sources. Usage figures are computed by Claybench over 10,859 glaze recipes compiled from publicly shared community recipe collections (snapshot 2026-02-27) — counts only; no recipe is reproduced, and the figures describe that collection, not every recipe in existence. Material roles and notes are paraphrased from Linda Arbuckle's Ceramic Materials handout unless noted. Hazard notes summarise supplier SDS guidance; read the SDS for the product you buy.
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