Water permeability of argillite-based ceramic tiles

The article presents the results of experiments to determine the interconnection between water impermeability and water absorption of ceramic tiles obtained on the basis of argillite-like clays that are widespread in the Southern Russia. It is shown that with a decrease in water absorption, the permeability of ceramics is normally reduced. It is found out that with 5% water absorption, a tile can be considered guaranteed waterproof. In this case, the index is independent of the tile thickness. It has been proved that it is possible to reduce the water absorption and increase the bending strength of tiles based on argillite-like clays by finer grinding of raw material or increasing the burning temperature. It is justified that the production of ceramics with high strength and low water absorption makes it possible to produce tiles with a smaller thickness and weight, as well as with lesser probability of biological corrosion