The process where a fired glaze develops a web of hairline fractures because it is under tension, usually due to a mismatch in thermal expansion between the glaze and the clay body. Crazing compromises the structural integrity and sanitation of functional wares, as bacteria can harbor in the micro-fissures. It can happen immediately upon cooling or develop slowly over time.
Heard on the job
If you apply that high-fire glaze to this earthenware body, it's guaranteed to craze as soon as you open the kiln.
Also heard as
- crazing
Do not mix it up with
- Crackle: Craze refers to an accidental defect that ruins food safety, while crackle is a deliberate decorative technique.