CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1    BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

1.2    STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

1.3    RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1.4    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

1.5    PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

1.6    SCOPE OF THE STUDY

1.7    DEFINITION OF THE TERMS       

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1    ORIGIN OF CERAMICS

2.2    CERAMIC MATERIALS

2.3    PROPERTIES OF CERAMICS

2.4    WHAT IS CERAMICS

2.5    CLAY

2.6    TYPES OF CLAY

2.7    GROG

2.8    THE CONCEPTUAL MEANING OF TILES

2.9    HISTORY OF TILES

2.10 TYPES OF TILES

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

3.1    SELECTION OF TOOLS, EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS.

3.2    DISCUSSION ON THE MATERIAL, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

3.3    PROCEDURE FOR PROJECT EXECUTION

CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

REFERENCES

INTRODUCTION

1.1 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.

1.5 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

    This project is meant to encourage the upcoming students in the society that there is a possibility in using clay slabs to produce ceramic tiles and to promote the ceramic tile industries in the country.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

    The research work is centered on using clay with grog to produce ceramic tiles. It would encompass the firing of the tiles and accessing the result of the final product.