Evaluation of the thermal comfort of ceramic floor tiles

Abstract

In places where people are bare feet, the thermal sensation of cold or hot depends on the environmental conditions and material properties including its microstructure and crustiness surface. The uncomforting can be characterized by heated floor surfaces in external environments which are exposed to sun radiation (swimming polls areas) or by cold floor surfaces in internal environments (bed rooms, path rooms). The property named thermal effusivity which defines the interface temperature when two semi-infinite solids are putted in perfect contact. The introduction of the crustiness surface on the ceramic tiles interferes in the contact temperature and also it can be a strategy to obtain ceramic tiles more comfortable. Materials with low conductivities and densities can be obtained by porous inclusion are due particularly to the processing conditions usually employed. However, the presence of pores generally involves low mechanical strength. This work has the objective to evaluate the thermal comfort of ceramics floor obtained by incorporation of refractory raw materials (residue of the polishing of the porcelanato) in industrial atomized ceramic powder, through the thermal and mechanical properties. The theoretical and experimental results show that the porosity and crustiness surface increases; there is sensitive improvement in the comfort by contact.

An environmentally friendly process for preparing commercial ceramic foam composites based on frit/glass wastes

“…For the formation of homogeneous pores in the foam ceramic structure, the high‐temperature viscosity of the body is of great importance. In the case where the composition was fixed, the high‐temperature viscosity of the body is a function of the temperature, and the pore development depends on the temperature, the peak temperature during firing, the dissolved gases in the body and the foaming elements at the body‐pore interface 8,21,33 . As a result of the low viscosity of high temperature, uncontrolled pore development occurs, the number of cell walls decreases, and the formed cell walls become thinner, which results in the formation of the connected pore structure.…”

“…As a result of the low viscosity of high temperature, uncontrolled pore development occurs, the number of cell walls decreases, and the formed cell walls become thinner, which results in the formation of the connected pore structure. Therefore, irregularly shaped large pores are formed, and the glassy phase is dominant in the structures exposed to such deformation 8,21,33 . The pore size can be increased by decreasing the high‐temperature viscosity, however, if the pore formation time is accelerated, the gases diffuse out from the body more quickly and thus causes a decrease in the number of pores.…”

“…In the first stage, the formation of foaming gas occurs by chemical reactions between presintered glass powders and foaming agents. In the second stage, the gases formed increase the physical volume of the foam with the increase in pore pressure due to the temperature increase 21 . Based on these studies, ceramic foam building materials that are lighter in comparison to concrete or natural stones, that have higher chemical resistance and that can be used in floor applications with high mechanical properties were developed.…”

“…In the second stage, the gases formed increase the physical volume of the foam with the increase in pore pressure due to the temperature increase. 21 Based on these studies, ceramic foam building materials that are lighter in comparison to concrete or natural stones, that have higher chemical resistance and that can be used in floor applications with high mechanical properties were developed. In the selection of the raw materials used, the increase in primary raw material prices and transportation costs was effective, and therefore, ways to utilize alternative raw materials and waste materials were investigated.…”

Thermal properties of chipboard panels made of sugar cane bagasse (Saccharum officinarum L)

“…However, these elements are usually devoid of treatments to minimize thermal discomfort that they cause in a country like Brazil, with such different climates and amplitude of thermal fluctuations. In a study evaluating the thermal comfort of ceramic flooring 4 the author emphasizes the importance of reducing the discomfort when in contact with cold floorings. For this, the possibility of reducing this discomfort by incorporating refractory raw material to ceramics has been studied.…”