In electrochemistry, the diffuse double layer (or electric double layer) consists of a structure that originates at the interface solid-liquid, at which a transfer of electric charge occurs, along with oxidation-reduction half-reactions.

In ceramic, we can talk about it when we talk about the electrical conductivity of the grinding water that plays an important role in reaching a proper and good fluidization of a ceramic mixture. In order to get a good result, the electrical conductivity must be very slow and therefore it must contain a low concentration of multivalent aions and cations (such as calcium 2+ or magnesium 2+).

An important quantity of multivalent anions and cations can lead to significant interferences to the fluidization process, by reducing the thickness of the diffuse layer on the surface of the clayey micelles, that is the distribution and thickness of anions and cations on the surface of the clay micella.

This reduction results in a general higher viscosity of the system (barbottina) due to the appearance of electrostatic attraction phenomena. In very simple words, the solid parts of the suspension (the micelles) attract each other, increasing the viscosity of the suspension.