SINGLE-LAYER TECHNOLOGY

1. Technologic process

Single layer tiles are composed of one single layer of a mixture made of  white or grey cement , marble powder, marble chips, colouring pigments and water.
They are tiles studied to be thin and light in weight. This ensures low transport costs and the possibility to be used in multilevel buildings and for restorations and wall covering. The single-layer products have first-class physic characteristics that can compete with other high level products.
The technological process consists of making a very liquid mixture  – water/cement ratio 0,6 – by means of planetary mixers, dispensing the right amount of mixture into the moulds of the press, and spreading it evenly using the optimal mould vibration and high pressure hydraulic compression that makes the mixture compact and reduces water/cament ratio to that required by the cement, that is 0,30.
Water is pressed out of the mixture by the hydraulic cylinder, that is without  the need of vacuum or depression, through filters placed under the mould,  that only let water pass. Filters last 4/5/8 hours for 3-4 times, provided they are washed each time. This method ensure compactness of the materials, without fault or cavities inside or on the surface of the tile.  A critical aspect of the process is the elimination of the excess liquid that overflows from the upper edge of the mould. Instead of using expensive and delicate aspiring buffers, OCEM designed and made an aspiring frame connected to a vacuum source leaned against the mould during the pressing. It is easy to disassemble and clean and is not a wearing spare part. This brilliant solution is protected by OCEM by an international patent  registered at the EPO (European Patent Office) in  Munich (Germany).
The product is then finished through grinding of the back side of the tile,  calibrating of the upper surface and eventually polishing with 6,8,10,12 heads, assembled on mobile bridges.
Curing is mabe by steams in cells.

2. Plant components

• Single-layer plant components

3. Advantages and disvantages

Single layer tiles ar designed for indoor spaces such as private houses, public places like banks, supermarkets, multilevel buildings etc.
It is not used for outdoors places such as sidewalks, squares, driveways etc. For such purposes, double layer tiles are generally used for their big thckness (but also for historic reasons) which imply too high costs for single layer tiles as they are contituted by cement, marble powder and chips on the whole.

4. Use

Indoors spaces, private houses, airports, banks, supermarkets, hotels, halls and lounges for floors and wall coverings (flat, shotblasted or bushhammered). It is often applied on the old floors in restorations.

5. Sizes

All sizes are possible, from the smallest tiles to the biggest slabs:

• 200x200 to be combined with decorated tiles
• 300x300 - 333x333 typical of center European and some Mediterranean Countries.
• 400x400 - 600x600 for large public spaces
• 1200x350 - 1200x400 - 1200x600 for steps
• 1500x400 - 1500x500  for kitchen tops, bars and bathrooms

6. Physical characteristics after 28 days

 
Download general catalogue for single-layer technology