Ceramic Tile Dust
It is used for various applications. Flooring, wall panels, and even countertop surfaces are made using this versatile, adaptable, and relatively easy to work with material. Ceramic tile has been around for many years and is a familiar construction material. But how is it made? What needs to be kept in mind when cutting it? And how is it cared for? We will look at each of those questions in this article. We will also take a look at what to consider regarding ceramic tile dust.
How is Ceramic Tile Made?
The process for making ceramic tile is simple if you break it down to general steps. The four main phases of making ceramic tile could be listed as follows:
- Mix the ingredients and shape them.
- Add the color to the tile to add interest.
- Fire the tile to achieve its final hardness and strength.
- Add a finish (if desired) to the tile.
The steps mentioned above begin with the ingredients that consist of various materials. The biggest part of the ingredients is clay. Note what
Architect Magazine said regarding this:
Natural clay composes about half of a tile’s makeup with granular materials such as feldspar, grog, and rock making up the balance. The amount of recycled content can be as high as 70 percent.
As you can see, there may be a combination of other materials n the ceramic recipe. Yet, the large part of the material is clay. This tried and true process for manufacturing ceramic tile results in tiles that are durable and great for use in a number of applications. All that is needed is a few simple tools and a bit of skill. However there are some things to keep in mind when cutting ceramic tile.
Cutting Ceramic Tile?
When cutting ceramic tile it is important to keep in mind that it is a very hard material and working with it in construction will most likely require special
diamond blades designed for cutting ceramic tiles. This will give you the best results and make the work much easier with less obstacles.
Dangers of Ceramic Dust
Another thing to be aware of when cutting ceramic tile is that ceramic dust poses a potential health risk for anyone that is exposed over the long term. This is because some of the ingredients mentioned earlier contain silica. OSHA has released guidelines regarding respirable crystalline silica that includes implementing various
dust control systems like working with portable dust extractors to remove the dust from the air to protect the worker. There are other factors to keep in mind when working with ceramic tile, but these are a couple of biggies to think about.
Caring for Ceramic Tile
Caring for ceramic tile is a pretty easy task. That is, if you know some basics about the care and cleaning process. First, ceramic tile can be cleaned using a variety of cleaners. Which cleaner you use will depend on what kind of mess you are trying to clean up. Most stains can be cleaned with either an alkaline or acidic cleaner. If you use an acidic cleaner on ceramic tile, be sure it is not a hydrofluoric acid or a derivative of such.
The cleaner manufacturer will most likely have instructions printed on the bottle. Be sure to follow the directions and use the cleaner only if it says it can be used on ceramic tile.
In the end, ceramic tile is a material that has been used for a long time and is flexible in its usage. However, when using it, it is important to know what to keep in mind when working with it and how to go about cleaning it after it is installed.
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