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What causes warping in clay?
Clay memory, or clay particle orientation that is affixed by physical/ionic properties, is what can cause ceramic warping. This is because the clay particles tend to return to their initial orientation when they begin to dry out. Porcelain is more prone to memory issues, but any highly plastic clay body is susceptible.
What causes tile to warp?
Normally warpage in installed tiles is caused by the tile being subjected to moisture and that is only when it is a natural stone or a resin quartz type tile or a cementitious tile. If the tile is bonded well enough with a rapid setting adhesive then the tiles can be restrained before they have a chance to warp.
Does clay have a memory?
Memory is caused by the loss of water content. As moisture is lost, the yield point increases until the maximum green strength is achieved. As drying occurs, the uniform negative charge reverts back to neutral, which in turn causes disorientation of the particles. Once the water leaves the clay, so does memory.
What’s the best way to dry clay tiles?
Allow the slabs or tiles to remain sandwiched in the pieces of drywall until stiff leather-hard or bone dry. The drywall will absorb moisture from the slabs and tiles from both sides, allowing the clay to dry evenly and slowly.
What’s the best way to roll ceramic tile?
For starters, if you have rolled the slab onto fabric, do not peel the slab off the fabric. Instead, put a hard board (plywood, drywall, etc.) on top of the slab, flip the whole thing, then peel the fabric off the clay. Or simply slide the slab onto a drying board without bending it.
Why does it take so long to dry ceramic tile?
Slabs and tiles are especially prone to warping and cracking because they usually have only one long surface exposed to the air, causing the slab to dry unevenly. One method to enable a slab or tile to dry evenly is to place it on a wire rack after it has been formed.
What’s the best way to roll a slab of clay?
Or simply slide the slab onto a drying board without bending it. Alternatively, you can roll the slabs directly onto a board and keep them there, flat, until they can be slid off. This works with slab rollers like the Brent where the clay stays stationary and the roller moves across it.