Expanded clay is a special kind of ceramic material.Its uniqueness lies in the fact that the expansion agent added during the preparation process is able to form tiny bubbles when sintered at high temperatures,thus creating a highly porous material with a three-dimensional spatial network structure.This high porosity gives expanded clay a series of special properties and a wide range of potential applications,making it a favorite among material specialists and artists,and often used in experimental,avant-garde creations.The article briefly introduces the classification and characteristics of expanded clay,its manufacturing process,decorative applications and the current research situation,and points out its development advantages and the problems to be faced.