Investigation of Physico-Mechanical Properties and Multi-Objective Optimization of Industrial Ceramic Tiles Using Response Surface Method: Sintering Temperature and Time

Firing process, which is highly difficult part to control, is the most important step in the ceramic manufacturing process. In this study, manufacturing technology and statistical methods were used together to produce low-cost and high-quality products at the optimum sintering temperature and sintering time. Physio-mechanical properties of ceramic tiles manufactured on the industrial scale were optimized using Central Composite Design of Response Surface Method. The regression coefficients of the obtained models (R 2) were evaluated according to the variance analysis (95% confidence level) results and determined as 97.70% for flexural strength, 98.50% for water absorption, and 97.90% for fired shrinkage. The standard deviation of flexural strength, water absorption, and firing shrinkage values, calculated according to the theoretical results, were 1.397%, 0.00265% and 0.0255%, respectively. The samples with desired physical properties were obtained with the developed models by examining the interactions of variables at the industrial conditions. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT