Use of Local Omani Clays with Low and Mid-Range Temperature Glazes for Art Educational Purposes: Possibilities and Limitations

In this study, red clays, the main industrial material of the Alanwar Ceramic Tiles Plant (ACTP) in Oman, were investigated for use in making glazed ceramics in local educational institutions. Different low and mid-range temperature glazes, which contained various compositions and properties, were examined in the glazing lab at Sultan Qaboos University. The study's aims were to develop and test low-and mid-range temperature glazes to explore if they could fit the red clays used by ACTP, so that the surface could be adhesively bonded. The laboratory glazes were obtained following technical rules to confirm the possibility of using different types of glazes on ACTP clays in Omani schools and universities. This could help reduce the cost of importing clays from overseas to use in Omani education institutions.