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Thanks all for the replies.
TBH I don’t think 18mm marine ply is going to flex: it’s only 400 x 1300 (landscape) and the weight is going to be supported by five brackets that will catch the bottom edge of the 18mm ply, the ceramics slightly lap over the ply so that the ply and also any hanging/mounting hardware won’t be visible. I reckon the total weight of the tiles is closer to 20-25kg all in and it is a sheer weight and I think pretty unlikely to flex in any significant way. I’m going to use as flexible an adhesive as I can find so hopefully that mitigates any flex. Need to look into a latex primer too, I’ve keyed the ply with some criss-cross scratches as you’d do between a scratch coat and plastering.
The reason I said about batons on the back is because that is often how unframed/unglazed paintings are transported - the batons/oz clips then screw into a timber “travel frame” that is larger and deeper than the painting though maybe you already know this if you have worked in similar fields
ghostface-
There is a BAL primer available from Topps which you could use for the plywood. Unfortunately you'll need to buy enough to do a lot more than the size you need to cover.
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Before cement board was in vogue everyone used plywood and flexible adhesives so I expect you'll be fine. The rating for tile adhesive flexibility is S1 for smaller tiles and S2 for large tiles (S2 being more flexible).
Airhead
JonoMarshall
I think the battens were suggested to prevent the board flexing, not for transport. If it flexes it doesn't matter what adhesive you've used, the tiles will come off. And if it's super heavy then it's likely to flex if ever moved. A sub frame would be a good idea. No idea on adhesive though I'm afraid.