Prototype used for testing the frost resistance of ceramic tiles Prototipo utilizado para el ensayo de resistencia a la helada en baldosas cerámicas

Abstract

The equipment used to simulate extreme weather conditions on materials, and standards which assess the quality of the products under these conditions, are of great importance for the ceramic industries of the region. For this reason we presented the design and construction of a computer to determine the frost resistance in glazed ceramic tiles according to the UNE EN ISO 1OS4S-l2. The process described inthe rule is to subjectthe samples to freeze-thaw cycles ina temperature range between -s °C and +s º C.The team is composed of three systems of work.The first is the cold room, which is formed by a stainless steel tank of SO liters, with a cooling system. The second consists of a hydraulic system required to perform the melting process. And, finally, an electrical system which allows easily manage the team in general, after construction was carried out to test a glazed tile company in the region. We have no knowledge of the existence of a similar divice inthe country; thereby the Francisco de Paula Santander University will pioneer the provision of this attempt.