Production of Ceramic Floor Tiles from Local Raw Materials in Kogi State: Physical and Mechanical Property Evaluation

This study investigates the production of ceramic floor tiles using raw materials sourced entirely from Kogi State, North Central Nigeria, and evaluates the physical and mechanical properties of the produced tiles against ISO 13006 specifications. The dependence of Nigeria's ceramic tile industry on imported raw materials and the availability of diverse ceramic mineral deposits in Kogi State provide strong motivation for developing a locally sourced tile production pathway. Clay, feldspar, and quartz are sourced from Lokoja and Kabba-Bunu Local Government Areas and characterised by XRF and XRD. Body formulations are developed by adjusting the clay-feldspar-quartz ratio within the classic triaxial porcelain composition range. Tiles are produced by uniaxial pressing at 25 MPa and fired at 1150 and 1200 degrees Celsius. Physical properties including fired shrinkage, water absorption, and bulk density are measured. Mechanical properties assessed include breaking strength, modulus of rupture, and scratch hardness following ISO 10545 test methods. Abrasion resistance and chemical resistance are also evaluated. Results show that tiles fired at 1200 degrees Celsius with a 55:20:25 clay-feldspar-quartz ratio achieve water absorption below 3 percent and modulus of rupture above 35 MPa, meeting ISO 13006 requirements for Group BIIa floor tiles. The study demonstrates the technical feasibility of an entirely Kogi State-sourced ceramic tile production process. Keywords: ceramic floor tiles, local raw materials, ISO 13006, firing, Kogi State.