Overview

A persistent white material appeared on the top surface of ceramic floor tiles, making it difficult to clean and significantly increasing tile installation costs. We were asked to identify this white material to help the installer either request its removal by the tile supplier before shipment or find a more effective cleaning method.

Analysis and Findings

To determine the nature of the white material, we first used Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Our FTIR analysis revealed that the material was not organic and likely contained magnesium and silicon oxides.

Next, we employed X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) to analyze the material. We compared the results from the top surface of the tile, where the white material was present, with samples taken from the bottom side of the tile and an area on the top side without the white material.

Our XPS analysis showed that the white material on the top surface was rich in magnesium oxide. This result matched the large quantities of white material found on the bottom side of the tile. This suggests that the top surfaces were becoming dirty due to the contamination on the bottom surfaces. The magnesium-rich white powder likely originated from refractory bricks, which are prone to erosion.

Conclusion

The analysis confirmed that the white material was primarily magnesium oxide, originating from eroded refractory bricks. Addressing this issue could involve either removing the material before shipment or improving cleaning methods.

The report is here: XPS of White Material on Tile

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