The present study aims to investigate the effect of sintering temperature and time on the sintering behaviour of ceramic tiles from 100% tungsten tailings. The relationship between phases, microstructure and physicomechanical strength was analysed. The results demonstrated that there are three phases, namely, quartz (SiO2), kyanite (Al2SiO5) and hematite (Fe2O3). The microstructures of pores varied from irregular ones with interconnected porosity to isolated and rounded ones in the ceramic tiles as the sintering temperature and time increase. In addition, high sintering temperature and long sintering time promise greater pores. The sample that was sintered at 1050°C for 1 h has a compact structure and superior physicomechanical strength of the ceramic tiles: low water absorption (0.2%), high bulk density (2.42 g cm− 3) and flexural strength (91 MPa). The results illustrated that utilisation of pure tungsten tailings in ceramic tile production constituted a feasibility of adding value.
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