enamelware

enamelware, utensils having a metal foundation and a coating of special glass, called porcelain enamel, applied by fusion. The porcelain enamel, or vitreous enamel, is applied to make the utensils corrosion resistant, more attractive, and easy to clean. It is designed to withstand the heat encountered in cooking. However, it will crack if the metal it covers is bent out of shape or if it is subjected to a severe jolt. A ground coat, e.g., a mixture consisting chiefly of borax, feldspar, and quartz, and one or more cover coats, e.g., one consisting of quartz, dehydrated borax, and titanium dioxide, are generally applied to a piece of enamelware.