Using phase diagrams to deal with moisture expansion

Consensus has it that the post-fabrication moisture expansion of fired clay-based materials is governed by the presence of amorphous and/or vitreous phases. In this work, very simple calculations using the lever rule and the phase diagram of the Al₂O₃–SiO₂–K₂O (A–S–K) system, were used to show that the experimentally observed dependencies between moisture expansion and the A/S and K/A weight ratios in clay-based compositions can be correlated with the amount of liquid phase formed during the initial melting of the composition, which remains in the fired body as a vitreous phase. This correlation might, if judiciously used, help ceramists in the choice of additives and/or processing conditions, while avoiding changes in the firing temperatures. Also, the results obtained throw a sharper light in the dual and, in this respect, antagonistic role played by the liquid phase during firing.