Clay Tiles

Tiles are thin slabs of low melting clays used for various purposes in engineering constructions.
These give a very pleasing appearance and good service properties. Roofing tiles, flooring tiles,
wall tiles and partition tiles are some of the examples. Due to the considerable mass, labour
consuming manufacture, erection and drainage problems, and appreciable transportation charges,
roofing tiles have lost their importance and are recommended locally. The various types of roofing
tiles in common use are shown in Fig. 2.16. Floor tiles are extensively used in houses and industrial
buildings. These are durable and impervious to water, resist abrasion well and wash easily. White
burning and red burning clays, fire clays and shales are used in making tiles for floor surfaces.
Tiles for surface of walls differ from floor tiles principally in design in degree of burning. Wall
tiles are burned at a comparatively low temperature, glazed, and fired again in muffle kiln at a still
lower temperature.

Tiles in present scenario are a primary element in bringing building interior as well as exterior
finishing and beauty. They are mainly made up of clay material or any form of inorganic raw
material.
Nowadays tiles are also manufactured from recycled materials, making the element eco-friendlier.
The shape of the tiles is obtained by the different processes like extrusion or pressing at room
temperature or any other method.
After the shaping, they are allowed to dry. These dried elements are subjected to fire. This stage
of firing is to ensure that they gain the required properties that they are meant to acquire when they
are in the market and in the building application.
Different types of tiles used in building construction are available in glazed or unglazed form.
They are incombustible in its nature. Tiles are unaffected under the light.

Types of Tiles based on Application

There is a different type of tiles used in building construction which are unique to the type of
surface where it must be applied.
Following are the types of tiles based on surface of application:
 Roofing tiles,
 Flooring tiles,
 Wall tiles, and
 Partition tiles.

The roofing tiles are earthenware that is baked products. Its manufacture is similar to that of brick.

The wall tiles as well as the floor tiles, are employed in the interior as well as the exterior of the
building. This is mainly employed based on the requirement of decoration or aesthetics. These
belong to the class of ceramics and are called as white wares.

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Tiles that are used on walls and floor are available in both glazed and in the unglazed forms. Mostly
the wall tiles are glazed by a thin layer of glazing when it is available in the market.
Floor tiles are too designed to bring the beauty of flooring and movement. But it is subjected to
higher load, pressure and other undesirable material action. So, these tiles are made more durable,
abrasion resistant, water impervious and easy clean form.
Floor tiles along with the mentioned properties should also provide good aesthetics. The degree of
burning is the parameter that differentiates the wall and the floor tiles.
When compared to floor tiles, the wall tiles burned at a lower temperature. After this, it is glaze
and re-fired at a lower temperature.

Type of Tiles based on Materials and Manufacture

Based on material and manufacture, following are the types of tiles used in building construction:

 Ceramic tiles or non-porcelain tiles, and

 Porcelain tiles.

Ceramic Tiles
Ceramic tiles are used for the interior floors, swimming pools, exterior floors, walls and for special
installation both in interior and exterior cases.
Most types of tiles come under the category of ceramic tiles. They are made from a mixture of clay
and other materials. They are fired in a kiln.
Following are the various types of unglazed and glazed forms of ceramic tiles:
 Earthenware tiles
 Terracotta and faience
 Fully vitrified tiles
 Glazed tiles
 Stoneware Tile

The earthenware tiles are made of clay while the stoneware tiles have a large quantity of silica that
is present in the form of sand, crushed stoneware etc. Silica in the stoneware tiles are added to
prevent the shrinkage when the fixing process is carried out.
Terracotta tiles are manufactured by the use of high-grade fired clay. When the firing is done twice
unlike the case of terracotta tiles, we obtain the faience. Faience initially is subjected to fire, that
is initially terracotta. After glazing the terracotta tiles, it is again fired. This will finally give
Faience.
The Faience is available in large variety of color change. This would help for improving the
terracotta works.

Glazed and Vitrified Ceramic Tiles

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Glazed and vitrified tiles ceramic are developed presently. The glazed tiles were only used for
walls, at initial stages. Glazed ceramic tiles are mainly manufactured by two processes.

Step 1: With the help of special white clay that is fired at a temperature of 1200 degree Celsius,
the body of the tiles are made. These final elements are called biscuits.
Step 2: The biscuits are accompanied by glazing and decorations if any, and are fired in the
oven.

The glazes in ceramic tiles can be of two types:

 Earthenware glazes, and
 Colored enamels.

The colored enamels are also of different types.

 Bright or glossy surface
 Eggshell, vellum finishes
 Matt finishes

For different types of floor and different abrasion due to traffic, the glazing techniques can be
improved.

Vitrified ceramic tiles are tiles that are made from clay materials plus other finely ground materials.
These are subjected to a higher temperature firing. Fully vitrified tiles are those tiles whose whole
thickness are also vitrified.

Vitrified ceramic tiles have higher abrasion resistance and can be employed in the areas of heavy
traffic. These tiles are said to hard as granite. These are polished with the help of carbide or
diamond abrasive tools.

When compared to vitrified tiles, the glazed tiles are not long lasting.
Porcelain Tiles

The manufacture, absorbing capacity and the breaking strength of porcelain tiles differ from the
ceramic tiles. The porcelain tiles are also made from clay. But compared with the ceramic tiles,
they make use of heavy or denser clay.

Porcelain tiles during manufacture are subjected to heavy temperature for a longer time. This
baking is carried out until all the water present in the element is evaporated. This unique method
of manufacture makes these tiles harder and denser compared to ceramic tiles.

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This is the reason why porcelain tile is regarded as a superior product when factors of durability,
design, color and value factors are considered.

Porcelain tiles are highly impervious to water. It has a water absorption rate lesser than 0.5%.

The cost of porcelain tiles is higher when compared to the ceramic tiles. The porcelain tiles gain
more application in surface areas that have high traffic. These tiles are a type of vitrified tiles. It is
sometimes referred to as porcelain vitrified tiles.

The porcelain tiles demand special cement for their installation. These tiles are harder and denser
compared to ceramic tiles. So, when these tiles are used for wall surfaces, the cement that has high
adhesive property are used.

The porcelain tiles that are polished are also available in the market. After firing of the tiles, they
can be polished. This would bring a shine in the tile, without any glazing.

Terracotta
It is an Italian word, Terra means clay and Cotta means burnt. Terracotta is refractory clay product
and is used in ornamental parts of buildings. The clay used for its manufacture should be of
superior quality and should have sufficient iron and alkaline matters. By varying iron oxide in clay,
desired colour can be obtained. The clay is mixed with powdered glasses, pottery and sand ground
to fine powder and pugged several times till it gets uniform and soft for moulding. Terracotta is
impervious, hard and cheap. When properly made the material weathers well and because of its
glazed surface can be cleaned easily. The product is burnt in special kilns.

Composition
Dry clay 50–60% Ground glass 8–10%
Crushed pottery 20% Clean white sand 10–20%

Uses
1. Hollow blocks of terracotta are used for masonry.
2. Cornices and arches.
3. Statuettes.
4. Ornamental works.
5. Being fire proof, terracotta is most suitable as casing for steel columns and beams.
6. Porous terracotta is used for sound insulation.

Stoneware
A hard ceramic material resembling porcelain with a different colour, usually grey or brownish is
made from refractory clay mixed with crushed pottery, stones and sand burned at high

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temperatures and cooled slowly. The clay used for making stoneware consists of about 75 percent
silica and 25 per cent alumina. Iron oxide is added to give colour.

Characteristics
1. Hard, compact, strong and durable material.
2. Gives ringing sound when struck.
3. Glazed stoneware becomes resistant to chemical and weathering action.
4. Gives good finish and appearance.

Uses
1. Light sanitary wares, e.g. wash basins, water closets, etc.
2. Drain pipes and fittings.
3. Road paving materials.
4. Flooring tiles and wall tiles in toilets and kitchens.