Slake, Slaking

'Slaking' refers to the breakdown that normally occurs when you immerse dried clay chunks or lumps in water (damp or wet lumps will not normally break down in the same manner because the wet clay resists the penetration of water). Typically the water attacks the surface and particles simply fall away. When slaking is complete a pile of fine material will be found settled on the bottom of the container of water, power mixing will then produce a slurry. Clays that slake well will break down in minutes if chunks are less than about 1 cm in size and all have exposure to the water. Very plastic clays may not slake since the wetting of the surface will cause swelling and act as a barrier to further water penetration. The slaking phenomenon makes it possible to slurry a raw clay mix and screen impurities from the slurry and then dewater, all without the need of grinding equipment.

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