Authors : Sale, Godday Okwoshi; Adedamola, John Oluwafemi; Ajayi, Adewale Olusegun; Alagbe, Oluwakemi Bidemi

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 3 - March

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/bdh87yyf

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26mar607

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Abstract : Nigerian ceramic and artisans face a significant obstacle, the high cost and unreliable electricity required to operate imported electric kilns. The study specifically examines the viability of designing and constructing an economical efficient down-draft kiln using a blend of locally sourced Nigerian clay from Ondo and imported insulated fibre as main construction materials with sole aimed to formulate a greater clay-fibre kiln wall with superior refractory and insulating properties, and to evaluate its performance against traditional firebrick kilns. The study adopted an experimental research design and is more than a technical exercise; it provides a practical and empowering blueprint for local artisans and entrepreneurs by offering a cost-effective alternative to expensive imports. This approach fosters technological self-reliance, reduces production costs, and stimulates sustainable growth within Nigeria's ceramics sector, demonstrating that unlocking industrial potential often lies not in foreign catalogues but in the innovative application of local materials and ingenuity. The study recommends that ceramic artists and institutions adopt this hybrid technique to promote sustainability and reduce production overheads, with further research encouraged on fibre-sourcing alternatives to enhance full localization.

Keywords : Nigeria; Kiln Construction; Refractory Clay; Improvisation; Ceramic Fibre; Local Fabrication; Down-Draft Kiln; Appropriate Technology; Small-Scale Industry.

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