PRODUCTION OF FLOOR TILES

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Contemporary ceramist had attempted to advice the industry to meeting the present day challenges of using clay not just for other purposes, but for producing a well vitrified ceramic tiles, that will improve surface quality and durability.
The ceramic tiles are just clay that are formed, glazed and baked. Most of the tiles are press casted in plaster moulds or clay slabs, rolled out directly to produce beautiful wall and flooring materials. These tiles also boast of durability and natural resistance to fire, frost, moisture and stains.(Herbert Minton: 1843). After all even those super heroes weren’t around to decorate palaces in ancient Europe or churches in renaissance Italy, yet ceramic tiles remain humbler hero even modern homes may glory in ceramic tiles, presence in the kitchen or the bathroom. In further note ceramic floor tiles can be used for interior and exterior decoration.
The essence of this research is to find out the ability of clay found in Auchi to see if they can be used in tile production without deformation.
This discovery of ceramic tile is traceable to the oldest pyramids, the ruins of Babylon and accident ruins of Greek cities men had always been motivated with the desire to create beautiful and durable items. (Andrew Jackson 1850)

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
The problem of this research is to verify through practice the possibility of using clay with grog to produce functional and durable ceramics tiles.

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The main objective of this project work is the use of clay that is formed, glazed and fired to produce a ceramic tile. In the execution of this project some questions ware put forward, such question are as follows:
i. Will the clay from Auchi be able to shape good refractory tiles?
ii. Will it stand the high temperature heat?
iii. Can the formed slab resist warpage?
iv. Of what importance will this research be to the school and the society?

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This research will motivate the development of small as well as large and mechanized ceramic industries to indulge in research of local clay in tile production. Any of these could absorb the future ceramist then by reducing the number of unemployment.
The research will also show and indicate one area of ceramic product recycling as grog was successfully used for this study.