Sedimentation is a process whereby particles suspended in a fluid accumulate due to a force field. This can be caused by the force of gravity (sedimentation by gravity or settling), by the centrifugal force (centrifugal sedimentation), or by the electric force (electroplating, electrophoresis, dielectrophoresis).

In ceramics, sedimentation phenomena can affect almost all kinds of suspension involved in the production process: from the barbottina to the grit or glaze suspensions.

Sedimentations can be localized or diffused and, in general, they are caused by several and different origins that negatively affect both the production process and the ceramic product.

All aqueous suspensions are usually under a constant stirring and mixed with chemicals (not only suspending agents) that properly act against the problem.