What is the processing flow of ceramic tiles?

The manufacturing process of ceramic tiles is a complex and meticulous craftsmanship, involving multiple steps. Here is the basic process of tile production:

1. Raw Material Preparation:
   • Select raw materials such as kaolin, quartz, feldspar, etc.
   • The raw materials are screened and mixed to ensure uniform composition.
2. Ball Milling:
   • The mixed raw materials are ground in a ball mill to achieve the required fineness.
3. Spray Drying:
   • The milled slurry is dried in a spray dryer to form dry powdery granules.
4. Pressing and Shaping:
   • The dried granules are pressed into green tiles of the desired shape.
5. Drying:
   • The pressed green tiles are dried to remove excess moisture.
6. Glazing:
   • For glazed tiles, a layer of glaze is evenly applied to the surface of the green tiles.
7. Printing and Decoration:
   • Patterns are decorated on the glaze using techniques such as roller printing and inkjet printing.
8. Firing:
   • The glazed tiles are fired in a kiln at high temperatures to harden the tiles and melt the glaze.
9. Polishing:
   • For polished tiles, the fired tiles are polished to achieve a smooth surface.
10. Edge Grinding:
    • The edges of the tiles are ground to make them smoother and more regular.
11. Inspection:
    • Finished tiles are inspected for quality, including size, color difference, strength, etc.
12. Packaging:
    • Qualified tiles are packaged and prepared for shipping.
13. Storage and Dispatch:
    • Packaged tiles are stored in the warehouse and shipped according to orders.

This process may vary depending on the specific type of tile (such as polished tiles, glazed tiles, full-body tiles, etc.) and the technical conditions of the factory. Modern tile factories often use automated equipment to improve production efficiency and product quality.