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A Guide To The Two Classes Of Ceramic Tile
There are 2 main types of tile construction: glazed and unglazed. When you look at a glazed tile from the side, you can see 2 layers. The body of the tile, or largest layer, is called the bisque and the top layer is called the glaze. Glazed tiles have a hard non-porous, impermeable surface after firing. They are more stain resistant than unglazed tile and are easy to clean.
Unglazed tiles add a whole different beauty to your home. They are solid colored all the way through and do not have a top layer of glaze. This is often referred to as through-body construction. They have no additional surface applications and are typically more dense and durable than glazed tile. Thus they are more suitable for interior and exterior applications where wearability is a concern. If your home has areas of heavy activity or kid zones, unglazed tiles may be just the answer.
There are 5 steps in the ceramic tile manufacturing process: Mining, Blending and Mixing, Pressing, Glazing, and Firing.
Step 1: Basic and Organic.
The process begins with the mining of the raw materials, which is a mixture composed of mostly clay and minerals.
Step 2: Transform Mud into Fine Sand.
The clay and mineral mixture is blended and mixed into a semi fine powder. Water is added to form a wet slurry or mud-like consistency. Then the slurry is pumped into a large dryer. The result is a fine clay powder that feels like warm, fine sand.
Step 3: Form takes Shape.
Next, the clay is pressed or formed into a tile shape. These pressed tiles are called green tiles at this stage. There is also another method called extrusion which can replace the pressing step. Extruded tiles are formed by forcing the clay material through a mold for the desired shaped versus pressing the tile. However, pressing is the more common method used today. And after the green tiles are formed they are dried to remove some of the moisture.
Step 4: Glaze Phase.
It’s the next step in the manufacturing process for those tiles that will have a glaze. If the tile is to remain unglazed it skips this step and goes directly to the firing kiln. The glaze liquid is prepared from a glass derivative called frit and colored dyes. The glaze is applied by either a high-pressure spray or is poured directly onto the tile.
Step 5: Heat Things Up.
The ceramic tiles are now fired in the kiln at temperatures around 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. Tiles that are fired once after the glaze is applied are called monocoturra tile or single fired. The other type is called biocuttura or double fired tile. Biocuturra tiles are first fired after the green tile is dried and then fired again after the glaze is applied.
An optional, durable choice is porcelain. Aside from the 2 types of ceramic tile, glazed and unglazed, there is another category that continues to gain popularity – beautiful, elegant, porcelain tile. Porcelain tile is made up of 50% feldspar and is fired at a much higher temperature than regular ceramic tile. This makes porcelain tile much harder and denser than other tile products. Their high performance and low water absorption ratings of less than 0.5 percent make these tiles a worthy choice for your home.
Additionally, porcelain tile can be used for interior and exterior applications as well as heavy or commercial areas. After the finished tiles have been inspected for quality assurances, they are packaged, crated and ready to be shipped.
Note to All Shoppers
Not all ceramic tiles are suitable for each area of your home. The beautiful, decorative tile you might put on your kitchen backsplash may not be recommended for installation on the floor. Most manufacturers have a rating system that is based on or supported by the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM). Many times you can find these ratings on the tile sample or in the product catalog.
The most common system rates ceramic tile abrasion resistance or the overall durability of the tile.
About the Author
Ceramic Creations specializes in tiling solutions including porcelain, ceramic, glass tiles and much more. To find Ceramic Tiles Rockland County, NJ, contact Ceramic Creations today. We serve the Hudson Valley region and all of Northern New Jersey.
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