Claygar Agar is a clay body material utilizing typical ingredients with the exception of one key ingredient (Veegum T) being replaced with agar agar, a biomaterial sourced from red algae.
Claygar agar is as workable and plastic as other clay bodies such as B-Mix, however handbuilding or wheel throwing will be difficult due to the temperature at which agar agar starts to solidify. When it dries, it has a smooth, semi-gloss finish with a hint of pink (likely due to the Manganese Alumina Pink component). After a bisque fire, it’s likely the color will come out more strongly as the same often occurs in normal clay.
Since agar agar solidifies when its temperature lowers to about 100℉, the pot life is dependent on environmental conditions. During experiments with this material, pot life was about 15 minutes when the material was prepared in a bowl. However when prepared directly inside a potterbot tube, and compressed quickly, the mixture has less heat loss, increasing its pot life to about 30 minutes.
Phong Tran
20 minutes but could need re-heating
2/10
1. Mix all dry ingredients together except for agar agar
2. Heat up water to a slow boil
3. Add agar agar to the water in very small amounts, stirring constantly and break up any clumps
4. Boil the water and agar agar mixture while stirring for at least 5 minutes
5. Pour a small portion of the liquid into the potterbot tube and add dry ingredients in small quantities, mixing inbetween to ensure no clumps
6. Continue adding and mixing both wet and dry ingredients
