Investigation use of nepheline syenite instead of albite within glazed porcelain tile body

In this study, the nepheline syenite from Kırşehir/Tatarilyasyayla Region, was used instead of the albite from Aydın/Çine Region, was used in the glazed porcelain tile recipe. The prepared recipes were ground and the density and sieve residue values were measured when they were in the form of sludge. The dried sludge were powdered and brought to 5-6 % granule moisture content suitable for glazed porcelain tile production. The granules were shaped in a laboratory press with a specific pressure of 360 kg/cm2. The shaped samples were dried in a stove and fired in a Sudio Uno brand roller kiln at 1186 °C for 50 minutes. Water absorption, firing shrinkage, bending strength and colour values of fired samples were measured. After the microstructure features of fired samples were examined by a scanning electron microscope and phase analysis was determined by X-Ray Diffraction. According to the results obtained, the water absorption and bending strength values of newly structure revealed better results than the standard structure within the operating standards. In addition, an acceptable amount of decrease was observed in the whiteness value of newly structure. In conclusion, the replacement of the albite from Aydın/Çine Region, with the nepheline syenite from Kırşehir/Tatarilyasyayla Region, increased the glazed porcelain tile annual raw material cost by 112 615 TL. Furthermore, due to the water absorption and bending strength values of newly structure, it is expected that the kiln process used for production is expected to speed up by 3 minutes and the of annual production will increase 30 750 m2 and decrease the of unit cost of tile to be produced 0,788 TL/m2.