What is expanded clay?
Our wood fired ovens are made of expanded clay and refractory materials. Expanded clay is raw clay that has been heated in a rotating furnace to high temperatures in the excess of 2,200°. After the clay almost liquefies, taking the form of small balls, it is subjected to air currents to cool it down. Before the clay liquefies, it forms small balls. It is then subjected to cooling currents of air. The result is small irregularly formed balls of clay that have a hard crust and inner porous nuclei. The inner core is light and highly insulating allowing the capture and retention of heat while the outer layer resists compression. These newly formed balls of clay are similar to pumice and have exceptional thermal properties.
