THE UTILIZATION OF LOCALLY AVAILABLE CERAMIC RAW MATERIALS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BALUSTERS FOR BALCONIES AND STAIRCASES
THE UTILIZATION OF LOCALLY AVAILABLE CERAMIC RAW MATERIALS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BALUSTERS FOR BALCONIES AND STAIRCASES
No Thumbnail Available
Date
1999-09
Authors
AYODELE, Olajide D.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The entire thesis is made up of 104 pages, 11 tables,
6 figures, 12 plates and 32 references. The problem of this
study is the identification and utilization of the available
ceramic raw materials for the production of balusters for
balconies and staircases. The purposes of this study are to
harness the locally available ceramic materials for the
production of balusters as alternative materials to steel,
wood and cement. The need for varieties to satisfy client's
tastes call for this medium of baluster production for
buildings. Raw materials such as quartz, feldspar, kaolin,
bentonite and secondary clay were either processed, or
obtained and used as body composition for the balusters. A
product design was made on paper which was later transferred
on wood by a turning machine. This was later used for model
casting. The plaster to water ratio of 130:100 was used for
casting mould making. Deflocculants of sodium silicate and
sodium carbonate in ratio 3:1 respectively were used for the
casting slip test. Grease and laundry soap were used as
mould separators. Biscuit firing was taken to 1300°C while
the gloss firing got to 1200°C in oxidation firing. The
researcher employed methods which included seeking
alternative medium to the use of cement, wood and metal for balusters production, testing them to ascertain their
strength and functional capabilities. Many studio tests and
experiments were conducted and the results of the
successful/unsuccessful ones were recorded. Based on the
experiments the following results/findings were made: that
thick wares of about 1 centimetre does not warp except when
too close to the source of heat; that the addition of 1.5
percent bentonite gave a good plasticity; that a cast was
only possible per day and per mould in order to avert
collapse or sagging; that about 65 percent Kaolin, 13
percent Quartz as well as 20.5 percent of Zaria Feldspar in
addition to the use of 1.5 percent bentonite in the clay
body composition produced improved stoneware, rather than
pure porcelain. This product can therefore, be referred to
as being porcelainous, but not true porcelain. Based on the
result obtained from this study, it is conclusive that, the
materials used in the formulation of the ceramic balusters
if utilized in the manner stated by this study will give
consistent result; that baluster production using ceramic
materials is achievable.
Description
A Thesis Submitted to the Postgraduate School,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts
Industrial Design
Department of Industrial Design
Faculty of Environmental Design
Ahmadu Bello University
Zaria - Nigeria
Keywords
UTILIZATION,, LOCALLY,, CERAMIC,, RAW MATERIALS,, PRODUCTION,, BALUSTERS,, BALCONIES,, STAIRCASES,