Abstract
The purpose of this research is to design and produce a gas and wood fired kilns with waste pots and potsherds that are as efficient as electricity and gas operated kilns which are built using conventional refractory bricks. Waste pots and potsherds were collected from two different pot producing communities, that is, Ojah in Akoko Edo and Imiegba in Etsako Central Local Government Ares of Edo State. To determine the suitability of the sample pots and potsherds collected for the construction of the kilns, the following tests were carried out: shrinkage, porosity and insulating tests. Two kilns were designed and constructed, a gas and wood fired kilns. The firing space and the outer wall of the gas kiln were designed to be circular with one burner port using only potsherd and mortar without using whole pots. The wood kiln was designed to have circular internal firing chamber, two fire boxes and a chimney. The kilns were subjected to series of gloss firing with wood and gas as sources of fuel and the maturing temperatures were recorded. The efficiency of the kilns constructed revealed that they were capable of firing to temperature above 1200°C that was originally planned for it to be attained coupled with uniform heat distribution experienced without any indication of cold spot. These kilns are capable of sustaining the deficiency arising from lack of imported kilns that could be used to accomplish finished ceramic productions as it is being currently encountered in Nigerian tertiary institutions and cottage level industries.
Highlights
Firing clays for hard, durable and improved aesthetics is an art that cuts across cultures and races
The decline in the Nigeria economy from the late 1980s to date has forced most of the existing industries to close down as a result of unsteady power supply from electricity and exorbitant cost of diesel and kerosene used in supplying kiln burners
This study explored the possibilities of designing efficient ceramic kilns with the use of earthenware pots/potsherds
Summary
Firing clays for hard, durable and improved aesthetics is an art that cuts across cultures and races. Firing is an indispensable factor in the practice of pottery and ceramics. Electricity supply in Nigeria since the late 1980s has become highly inadequate, epileptic and unreliable for kiln firing. With the high cost of importation resulting from high foreign exchange rate, maintenance of electrical elements for kilns and its accessories as well as the running cost of alternative fuel makes research into affordable ceramics kilns for tertiary institutions and practitioners in Nigerians inevitable. Ceramic production has thrived significantly from the late 1970s to 1980s both at industrial and cottage levels. The decline in the Nigeria economy from the late 1980s to date has forced most of the existing industries to close down as a result of unsteady power supply from electricity and exorbitant cost of diesel and kerosene used in supplying kiln burners
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