Charred Clay

Charring

Charring is a chemical process of incomplete combustion of certain solids when subjected to high heat. Heat distillation removes water vapour and volatile organic compounds (syngas) from the matrix. The residual black carbon material is char, as distinguished from the lighter colored ash. By the action of heat, charring removes hydrogen and oxygen from the solid, so that the remaining char is composed primarily of carbon. Most solid organic compounds, like wood or biological tissue, and thermoset polymers exhibit charring behaviour. In non-scientific terms, charring means partially burning so as to blacken the surface.

Clay

Clay is a type of fine-grained natural soil material containing clay minerals. Most pure clay minerals are white or light-coloured, but natural clays show a variety of colours from impurities, such as a reddish or brownish colour from small amounts of iron oxide.

charred

Verb

1. simple past and past participle of char

Adjective

1. burnt, carbonized

clay

Noun

1. A mineral substance made up of small crystals of silica and alumina, that is ductile when moist; the material of pre-fired ceramics.
2. An earth material with ductile qualities.

Verb

1. To add clay to or to spread clay onto.
2. To purify using clay.