Ceramic - Pottery Dictionary

by Susan Mussi

BLOATING - A defect in clay.

ca: INFLOR - Un defecte de l’argila.

es: HINCHAZÓN - Un defecto de la arcilla.

Bloating is a defect in clay caused by the many gases that come out of the clay during firing and it can lead to swelling, blisters and holes in the bisque. It is made up of pockets of gas that have developed after the firing has started; the higher the temperature, the more possibility there is of it happening. It can also be due to the trapping of gases that cannot escape, over-firing, bad wedging or foreign materials.