is it possible to recycle clam shells then turn them to floor tiles? how? :D tnx?

Question

or if not tiles, what are other alternatives in which we can recycle clam shells into? thank you

Answer 1

This is quite possible, and can be done on an industrial scale:

- crush the shells, and pass them through a kiln. This produces lime (calcium hydroxide) from the calcium carbonate which forms the shells.
- add the lime to fine sand, and press the mixture into tile shape
- pass the pressed tiles through a kiln again, this time at high pressure.

You will then have formed calcium silicate tiles; hard and strong.

This process is mostly used in making calcium silicate bricks; but it is only really possible on an industrial scale. Usually, on an industrial scale, crushed limestone is used to produce the lime rather than crushed shells, because of the abundance and availability of limestone in large quantities.

Answer 2

A clam shell is rather soft and would not withstand reasonable traffic on the floor.

One possibility is to crush them into small pieces and mix it into the top layer of the tile and process the tile normally. This may supply a nice texture to the floor.

Answer 3

You never saw a limestone tile floor? (I put one in my own bathroom)

They can be used as aggregate in concrete, and when polished then become what is known as a terrazzo floor. Terrazzo is a centuries-old technique for doing just what you are describing. It was used in Italy in the fifteenth century, typically using chips of marble, but there is no reason clam shells would not work well, as they are the same chemical compound as marble and limestone. I know of one commercial terrazzo contractor who actually uses shells.
http://www.ntma.com/02__terrazzo_info.php
and
http://www.precastterrazzo.com/history_terrazzo.asp

Around southern Louisiana there are so many oyster shells they sometimes use them for paving material instead of gravel, and they are sometimes mixed with asphalt and used in blacktop roads.

The poultry industry uses oyster shells as a calcium supplement for chickens so they will have strong egg shells. Clam shells are used for the same thing.

Clam shells, being primarily calcium carbonate, are sometimes ground up and used as medicine and vitamin supplements for people. In Iceland a fishing company is selling them for use as pharmaceutical grade calcium and vitamin supplements.
http://www.bit.or.at/irca/bbsshow8.php?ref1=pi2832&vQuelle=KMT&cc=

Some types of clam shells (fresh water) are particularly high purity calcium carbonate. http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/152/3727/1368

Calcium carbonate (which is in clam shells) is used by the steel industry, by the glass industry, the paper industry, in carpet backing material, and in paint (it makes it flat). The plastics industry is actually the largest consumer of ground calcium carbonate (about 55% of industrial use) and it is used in PVC plastics, thermoset polyesters, and polyolefins. It adds whiteness to plastic, improves strength, and replaces expensive resins. It is most commonly used in plastics found in shower stalls, commercial and residential flooring, bathroom sinks, pipe, and electrical conduit.
http://www.nssga.org/communications/calcarbro.cfm

Answer 4

You could make impressions of clam shells in concrete tiles.

The shells contain salt and will not bond to a surface for very long.

Answer 5

sure, but the floor won't be flat.

Answer 6

LOL cute! =)

Great idea

Answer 7

I don't know if that's possible.