Studying and Utilizing Traditional Technologies: Microstructure and Formation Mechanism of ε-FeO on Traditional Japanese Bizen Stoneware.

Traditional Japanese Bizen stoneware is produced by firing a specific type of green clay in a wood-fired kiln at approximately 1200 °C. During this process, single crystalline branched dendrite-like particles of Al-substituted ε-FeO (ε-FeAlO) with widths and lengths of approximately 15 and 30 μm, respectively, are formed on the surface of the ceramic. Composite particles consisting of ε-FeO epitaxially connected to spinel structure compounds [comprising the Fe-substituted spinel (Mg,Fe)(Al,Fe)O and γ-FeO)] with lengths of approximately 3 μm are also generated.