Bone ash is the white, material produced by the calcination of bones. It is primarily composed of calcium phosphate. It is commonly used in fertilizers, polishing compounds and in making ceramics such as bone china. It also has historical uses in the manufacture of baking powders and assay cupels.
Although synthetic alternatives, such as dicalcium phosphate and tricalcium phosphate, have been produced, the majority of bone china is still made using natural bone ash. Synthetic bone ash has also found use as a mold release agent for the casting of non-ferrous metals such as copper.
Famous quotes containing the words bone and/or ash:
“Take adultery or theft.
Merely sins.
It is evil who dines on the soul,
stretching out its long bone tongue.
It is evil who tweezers my heart,
picking out its atomic worms.”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)
“Thoth, Hermes, the stylus,
the palette, the pen, the quill endure,
though our books are a floor
of smouldering ash under our feet.”
—Hilda Doolittle (1886–1961)