Study on the contribution of water-retentive ceramic tile to the reduction of environment heat accumulation

Abstract

A new type of water-retentive ceramic tile using industrial wastes as raw material has been developed. The tile has pores with an average size of about 10 micrometers, and, in a saturated condition, has a volumetric water content of more than 40%. Its moisture retention curve is quite unique, different from any kind of traditional types of tile. The performance of the tile was tested by exposing water-saturated tile to the sun in summer. In the test, the surface of the tile was more than 10°C cooler than the concrete roof. In another test, a tile pavement at a housing complex was sprinkled with water and the surface temperature of the pavement was measured.The test showed that the surface temperature of the pavement were also low and the temperatures of air directly above the pavement were lower than the ambient temperature by 1 to 2°C. The reason for these phenomena was found out to be that heat was consumed as evaporative cooling latent heat so that the surface was cooled.