Moisture expansion (ME) of ceramic materials have being studied and observed since the beginning of the last century. Many studies reported the failure of structural ceramics and the crazing of glazed bodies as a consequence of the lack of control of the ME of ceramic products. While many other studies analyzed the reasons of the ME, its relations with the composition and firing characteristics of the ceramic body, and the methodologies for the determination of ME. However, this knowledge is dispersed in the world literature, making difficult the study and understanding of the phenomenon; moreover, it minimizes the importance of the subject. This work aims to make a review of the studies on the moisture expansion of ceramic bodies, emphasizing the most relevant results. The text consists on the historic aspects, the reasons of the ME and the correlations of the ME with composition, firing temperature, water absorption and surface area of ceramic bodies.
moisture expansion; ceramic materials
