Fabrication and Properties of Wall and Floor Tiles Using Waste Glass

Abstract

Wall and floor tiles were fabricated by a dry pressing method using waste glass and clay. The properties of the tiles such as absorption, bulk density, porosity, compressive strength, and abrasion loss were investigated with the firing temperature and glass contents. The properties were improved by increasing the firing temperature and glass contents. These properties, except the compressive strength, tended to be saturated from the glass contents of 70 wt % in the case of 1050 °C. The compressive strength showed the maximum values at the glass contents of 70 wt% and then decreased with increasing glass contents. The optimal properties obtained in the tiles were the water absorption of about 0.9 %, the bulk density of about 2.3 g/cm3, the apparent porosity of about 2.1 %, the compressive strength of about 210 MPa, and the abrasion loss of about 0.022 g, when the composition containing the glass of 70 wt% was fired at 1050°C. These results are better than the properties of commercial clay tiles for easy melting and densification of glassy phase in the tiles.