Ceramic tile is one of the most versatile building products and
continues to be so.With easy maintenace and easy to clean, long
lasting, comes in an endless array of colors, will not absorb
smell, allergens or water , it is fireproof and can be installed in
any part of the house. Ceramic tiles also comes with patterns to
suit any design or style.
Ceramic tile was first invented back in 4,000 BC in Egypt. From
a hand made product to an automated process tile has evolutionized
over time. The manufacturing process was perfected to an art. In
the 19th century Britain made it a mechanized process. Soon the
idea of automated manufacturing process spread throughout Europe.
Today people have adapted the idea in the U.S. and perfected the
manufacturing process.
This process starts clay minerals feldspar . These raw clay
materials are crushed and pulverized. Using screens, this
pulverized matter gets seperated to a workable clay material
mixture. Where it is mixed with its correctly amount of clay
mixtures and grades. This process is furthered by using either dry
pressing or wet milling methods to form the tiles. Different
machines are used to press the tiles and apply the glaze. Glaze on
tile can change color, texture and pattern wet milling. There are
different machines and methods of pressing the mixture into the
correctly shaped tiles and similarly there are different methods of
applying the glaze. The glaze can change the texture of the tile as
well as the color, feel, and pattern. Dry milled ceramic tiles are
bisque fired at low temperatures before being glazed. After they
are glazed, the tiles refired for up to 2-3 days at temperatures of
about 2,370°F. Wet milled tiles take 60 minutesless to fire at
temperatures of about 2,100°F. This firing process is called
monocottura. The monocottura process makes tile stronger and much
harder.
Uses
• Interior
•shower and tub surrounds
•floors and walls
•countertop backsplashes