How does clay help shape bricks and tiles before firing?

Clay is essential to the production of bricks and tiles because of its unique physical structure and plasticity. The fine, plate-shaped particles of clay allow them to slide over one another when mixed with water, enabling the material to be molded, pressed, or extruded into specific shapes without losing its integrity.12

Depending on the water content, clay can be manipulated through several forming processes:

• Stiff-mud process: Clay is mixed with enough water to become plastic and is then forced through a die to create a continuous column, which is cut into the desired dimensions for bricks or structural tiles.32
• Soft-mud process: A higher water content is used to create a softer mix, which is then placed into lubricated molds to form the unit.34
• Dry-press process: For clays with low plasticity, a minimal amount of water is added, and the material is compressed into steel molds under high pressure.34

In these processes, the clay acts as a former, providing the necessary shaping ability to hold a form until it is dried and fired in a kiln to achieve a permanent, load-bearing bond.5