The general term “clinker” conceals a number of finishing and building materials made from shale clay using a special extrusion method. It is he who allows to achieve maximum strength, durability and frost resistance of the material. An important fact is that clinker is an environmentally friendly ceramic product, characterized by a very attractive appearance. Its range of applications is quite wide: facing swimming pools, facades, sidewalks, stairs and more.
Clinker tile: what is it and where does the name come from?
Clinker got its name in the homeland - in Holland. It came from a characteristic sound made by brick and clay tiles, which passed the stage of pressing and firing, when tapped. In this country, residents needed material that did not differ in performance from the stone and even surpassed it. This is how clinker made of clay was invented. The mass was baked in ovens, where the raw materials were exposed to a constant and rather high temperature.
Thus, clinker tiles, bricks and other similar materials for decoration appeared. All of them were not inferior in their characteristics to natural stone. That is why clinker tile production technology has become widespread throughout Western Europe, and it has become widely used for construction, exterior cladding, paving roads, alleys, sidewalks, terraces, and then for styling the interior of the premises. That is why the main production enterprises are still concentrated in the countries of Northern and Western Europe.
Fields of application
One of the products of the above production is clinker tile. What is it will become clear if we consider it in more detail. It represents a finishing material - a ceramic tile of single firing. It is made from shale clays, which are mixed with fluxes and coloring oxides. Clinker cladding system for buildings came to us from Germany. They have long been using this type of product for the protection and decoration of houses.
Clinker tiles for the facade has become popular not only among designers, but also among customers, as it is characterized by rich expressive plastic, as well as a wide range of colors. However, now you can get brick facades without using a whole facial material. For constructive and financial reasons, this makes sense. Most often, imitation is carried out using a material such as clinker tiles for the facade.
Specifications
This type of product has the highest strength and quite attractive appearance. The degree of saturation of the material with moisture has a paramount effect on its resistance to freezing and thawing cycles, as well as on durability. The low coefficient of water absorption makes the clinker tile extremely resistant to frost. And this makes it possible for its active use in rather aggressive environments, for example, in industrial premises and pools, for the decoration of building facades that need protection from negative atmospheric influences. This gives them longevity and also ensures that they do not need to be repaired.
Using
Very interesting is how clinker tiles are made. That this has already been said above, but the process of obtaining it has not yet been described in detail. In addition to conventional clays, in the manufacture of clinker tiles, special ones are added, as well as earthenware or chamotte fighting, which increase the density of the material and reduce the porosity of future products.
Interested in clinker tiles? What it is and how it is received is already clear. It can be used as a facing material for concrete, foam concrete and even wooden surfaces. Its load on the foundation is insignificant, while it is very uniform, that is, this type of cladding can be used during restoration to extend the life of dilapidated houses, as well as in multi-story construction. The thickness of the tile is usually from 9 to 25 mm. The greater this indicator, the higher the degree of strength of the material.
High consumer properties of the products guarantee that they will serve no less than the building itself.
Production
Clinker tile finish is made from elements made by extrusion, as it has the most suitable qualities for this. The process of molding extruded clinker has much in common with the process of manufacturing a plastic profile. Its essence is as follows: shale clay is pressed through holes with the required shape, and then tiles of the required format are cut. The next stage is the firing of the resulting product. It is produced in a tunnel furnace, the length of which is 150 meters. The procedure itself takes place at a temperature of 1300 degrees Celsius until then, until complete sintering occurs. With correctly carried out firing, it is possible to obtain a high-strength clinker with a homogeneous structure, in which there are no large inclusions, caverns or voids. After firing, the material acquires properties such as a high degree of resistance to abrasion, temperature extremes, exposure to aggressive chemicals, and frost. And so it turns clinker tiles. What it has and what properties it will be described below.
Basic properties
The main characteristic is a low degree of moisture absorption, which is 3%, so the material is very resistant to frost. There is a brick tile under the brick, which absorbs 4-10% moisture, it is used in pools and industrial premises.
The modern range of products in this category is characterized by great diversity. Available colors are from white to dark brown. Clinker tiles for the facade can not only have a glossy surface, but also differ in a certain roughness. In some products, both effects were applied at once, which made it possible to obtain a surface where the roughness seems to be ground.
Application options
How is clinker tile used? What does this give the building? At the moment, there are a lot of ways. Since the most popular option is the cladding of facades, it is worth noting the benefits regarding this point.
Brick brick tiles make the building attractive, giving it protection from frost, as well as from strong summer heat. By itself, it is quite durable, resistant to different environments and durable. Thanks to this cladding, you can protect the house from any climatic changes. Choosing a similar facade system will free you from any problems in the near future. If clinker facade tiles are used, the price of which starts from 1200 rubles per square meter, then you can forget about the need for cosmetic repairs for a long time. Compared with facing bricks, it is much more profitable to use. In this case, the color and shape can be selected so that not every professional determines that this is not a brick.
Arguments for material
Experts say that clinker tiles for the facade is the best solution that at the moment you can only imagine. There is an opinion that nothing is better represented on the market of building materials. That is why it is worth pointing out certain competitive advantages.
Clinker-type thermal panels are environmentally friendly material that is not capable of causing harm to humans or the environment. The production of this material is carried out from pure clay with a low sand content, and there are no other impurities in the composition. Due to the natural coloring process during firing, the use of special dyes is eliminated.
Finishing and restoration
The structure, which is characterized by thermal panels with clinker tiles, is quite homogeneous and dense, it does not have voids or large inclusions. This feature provides the material with hardness and strength, which is comparable to stone in terms of performance.
This decoration method is suitable for old buildings, as well as for new buildings. At the same time, the walls of the house can be made of different materials, and for fixing the tiles, glue corresponding to each specific situation is used.
As you can see, clinker tiles can be called a universal way of decorating building facades .