Ceramic Tiles from

Crassostrea iredalei
(Oyster) Shells
Allen A. Espinosa April Mae V. Agbayani
(IV-30 BSE-Chemistry)
Researchers
Adventure Works: The ultimate source for outdoor equipment
 Objective of the Study
1. Utilize Crassostrea iredalei (oyster) shells
as substitute to silicon dioxide (silica sand)
in ceramic tile making.
 Result
1.1 Mixtures A, B, C and E dries, hardens and
forms a tile body. No cracking occurs when
removing it in the plaster of paris mold.
Mixture D, however, did not form a tile body
because it did not harden and it did not
become moldable, though it dries.

Mixture A 2:3
(pulverized oyster shells :
Mixture B 1:1
fixed mixture of ball clay
Mixture C 3:2
feldspar and kaolin ratio of
Mixture D 1:0 mass)
Mixture E 0:1
Sample of Other Mixtures Mixture
D
 Result
1.2 All the groups except for B2 yields 100%
after firing though it is noticeable that
almost all have little damage. Group B2
broke into fragments and exhibits extensive
damage.

(1) bisquit firingproduct procedure

(2) glazingglost firingproduct

procedure

(3) bisquit firingglazingglost

firingproduct procedure
 Tile B2
Other Tile Samples
 Objective of the Study
2. Test the physical properties of the
produced ceramic tiles:
2.1 Impact Strength;
2.2 Porosity
 Result
2.1 In general, groups B3 and C3 are the tiles
comparable with control tiles F or G in terms
of impact strength.
Tile B3 Tile C3
 Result
2.2 In general, tiles A2, B1 and C3 are the tiles
comparable with control tile F in terms of
porosity.
Tile A2 Tile B1 Tile C3
 Objective of the Study
3. Compare the ceramic tile made of
Crassostrea iredalei (oyster) shells to
commercially available ones such as the
Mariwasa Ceramic Tiles® and Floor Center
Ceramic Tiles® in terms of impact strength
and porosity.
 Result
• C3 is the most feasible experimental tile
because it is feasible in both impact
strength and porosity test done.
Tile C3
 Conclusion
Based on the statistical analysis, it was
found out that utilizing Crassostrea iredalei
(oyster) shells as substitute to silicon
dioxide (silica sand) in ceramic tile making
at a 60% substitution and with a bisquit
firing  glazing glost firing  product
firing procedure is feasible in terms of
impact strength and porosity.
 Recommendations
• Utilize other test for the physical properties
of the best tile produced.
• The use of other tile body forming methods
like the dust press method or the spray
drying method;
• Reformulation of the proportions of the
calcium carbonate, ball clay, feldspar and
kaolin used.
 Statement of the Problem
• Every year various solid wastes in our
country have been a great problem to our
government. One example is the shells of
Crassostrea iredalei commonly known as
oyster found near the seashores.

• These shells are known fossil that contains

ninety seven and a half percent (97.5%)
calcium carbonate (CaCO3).
 Methodology
1.1 Five (5) different mixtures were made:
mixtures A, B, C, D and E.
 The composition of each are: 2:3, 1:1,
3:2, 1:0, 0:1 (pulverized shells : fixed
mixture of feldspar, kaolin and ball clay
ratio of mass).
• The composition of the fixed mixture
was 3:2:1 (feldspar : kaolin : ball clay
ratio of mass).
 Slip Casting was used in the preparation
of mixtures.
Preparation of Mixtures, Mixing and
Molding
 Methodology
1.2 Three firing procedures were done:

(1) bisquit firingproduct

(2) glazingglost firingproduct

(3) bisquit firingglazingglost

firingproduct
Firing Technology
 Methodology
2.1 Impact Strength Test
The tiles would be placed on the floor
underneath a piece of metal. A load would
be dropped on the metal. This would be
done on each of the tiles with increasing
weight.

Height = 0.68 m
Load 1 = 100 g
Load 2 = 200 g
Load 3 = 500 g
 Methodology
Rating Scale:

50 – no cracks, no damage
40 – chipped; few cracks
30 – more cracks but did not break into
fragments
20 – broke into fragments
10 – extensive damage; crushed
Impact Strength Test
 Methodology
2.2 Each tile was weighed using a triple beam
balance to get its dry fired mass (Wm). After
weighing, each tile was dipped in water
instantaneously to fill the open pores then it
was weighed again to get its unsaturated
mass (Wd). After weighing, the tiles were
submerged in water for five (5) hours and
were weighed again to get its saturated
mass (Wmm). To get the percent apparent
porosity (%Pa), the values gathered from
weighing was then substituted to the
equation:
% Pa=Wm–Wd/Wm–Wmm x100
Porosity Test
 Methodology
• One-way ANOVA was used in comparing the
physical properties like impact strength and
porosity of the produced tiles with that of
the commercial tiles