Description
Barium carbonate is widely used in the ceramics industry as an ingredient in glazes. It acts as a flux, a matting, and crystallizing agent, and combines with certain coloring oxides to produce unique colors not easily attainable by other means. Its use is somewhat controversial since some claim that it can leach from glazes into food and drink. To provide a safe means of use, BaO is often used in the fritted form.
In the brick, tile, earthenware, and pottery industries barium carbonate are added to clays to precipitate soluble salts (calcium sulfate and magnesium sulfate) that cause efflorescence.
