Engobe is a clay suspension that is applied to a clay surface in a leather-hard, dry or fired state. Engobe contains clay and fluxes (low-melting glazes) for better adhesion of the engobe to the shard. Colored engobes are dyed with pigments or metal oxides.

What is engobe used for?

1. To mask rough texture (chamotte, for example), the color of the shard (white engobe on red clay).

2. To decorate the clay surface (solid coloring or drawing).

3. To create three-dimensional decors, various textures.

4. Engobes eliminate problems with colored masses (bubbles, pinholes).

How to apply engobe

Engobe is applied with a spray gun, by dipping, with a brush, sponge, using a slip trailer or a rubber bulb.

Like clay, engobes will shrink when drying. Therefore, it is best to apply to undried (still damp or in a leather-hard state) products to improve the adhesion of the engobe to the shard. Engobes can also be applied to fired products, after moistening the surface with water.

1. Spraying – to create a smooth surface, mask unwanted coloring of products. It is recommended to apply thick engobe to a densely sintered shard, and less thick to a porous one. The denser the ceramic surface, the less water the engobe should contain.

2. Dipping

To obtain a uniform smooth surface, paint the clay surface in a different color, use engobe as a primer. The thickness of the coating layer is 0.3-0.6 mm.

3. Brush application – painting

In this case, engobe is used as an underglaze paint, with which you can also create a relief pattern. The density of the engobe suspension depends on the density of the ceramic shard and the type of painting. The denser the shard and the greater the relief height, the thicker the engobe should be.

For greater ease of applying engobe with a brush, use glycerin as an additive (sold in pharmacies).

Glycerin reduces the rate of absorption of engobe into the surface of the shard, which allows you to make a smoother stroke.

4. Sponge application

Using a sponge, using different colored engobes, you can create unique surfaces, for example, “marbled”.

5. “Pastilage” technique – creating relief decors with a slip trailer

or a rubber bulb. The density of the engobe is the maximum possible for passing through the nozzle of the slip trailer.

Can engobes be mixed?

Engobes mix well with each other. For example, by changing the proportions of white and green, you can get different shades of green engobe.

Firing of engobes

The dried engobe product is subjected to firing, during which the engobe adheres to the shard, forming a durable coating. If the engobe is applied to a fired product, this is the second firing of the ceramic shard.

Firing of engobe majolica products is carried out at a temperature of 1000–1100 °C, engobe products made of stoneware and fireclay masses – at a temperature of 1180–1200 °C.

Glazing

To give brightness, aesthetic and protective properties to the engobe coating, the surface of the fired products is covered with glaze. The temperature of the glaze firing is determined by the firing temperature of the clay shard.

The best results are obtained when using thin layers of glaze, in medium and thick layers of glaze they can give a whitish haze in the thickness.Engobe