ABSTRACT
Cement tiles have been manufactured in Chettinadu (Tamil Nadu, India) for almost a century. Known as Athangudi tiles, by their main place of manufacture, these cement tiles were the preferred flooring material for Chettinadu residences during the 1900s. The tiles are still being manufactured in Athangudi and other areas and used as flooring material in modern buildings for their heritage value. However, recent flooring done with Athangudi tiles presents many durability problems, especially on the surface. These damages are affecting the reliability of these tiles in spite of their heritage value. An attempt has been made in this study to evaluate the mechanical properties of the tiles in Athangudi to understand the reason for these damages. The process of manufacture of some cement tiles in India and other countries has been studied to suggest value addition to the traditional craft in Athangudi. Prototype tiles were manufactured by applying pressure compaction to the tiles during the process of moulding as an initial step towards the improvement of durability of the cement tiles.
