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Characterization, thermal behaviour and firing properties of clay materials from Cap Bon Basin, north-east Tunisia, for ceramic applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 January 2021

Youssef Chalouati ,
Ali Bennour ,
Faouzi Mannai  and
Ezzedine Srasra
Youssef Chalouati*
Affiliation:
Carthage University, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte (FSB), Department of Earth Sciences, Zarzouna7021, Tunisia National Office of Mines (ONM), Charguia I, 2035 Tunisia
Ali Bennour
Affiliation:
Arid Regions Institute (IRA), Road of Djorf km 22, 4119Médenine, Tunisia
Faouzi Mannai
Affiliation:
Carthage University, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte (FSB), Department of Earth Sciences, Zarzouna7021, Tunisia National Office of Mines (ONM), Charguia I, 2035 Tunisia
Ezzedine Srasra
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Composite Materials and Clay Minerals (LCM), National Center for Research in Materials Science – CNRSM, Borj Cedria, BP 73, 8027Soliman, Tunisia
*
*Email: youssef2612@gmail.com
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Abstract

This study focuses on the characterization, thermal behaviour and firing properties of clays from Cap Bon Basin, Tunisia. Chemical (inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy) and mineralogical (X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy) characterization of the clays was carried out. Physical properties were identified using particle-size distribution and Atterberg limits tests. Differential thermal analysis/thermogravimetry, dilatometry, XRD and FTIR analyses were conducted to assess the thermal behaviour, transformations and crystalline phase development during firing. The clays studied show large proportions of silt and clay fractions. They are rich in SiO2, Al2O3 and Fe2O3 and mostly consist of illite, kaolinite, smectite and minor mixed-layer illite-smectite. Associated minerals are mainly quartz, calcite and feldspar. To monitor the firing properties, three clay mixtures referred to as M1, M2 and M3 were prepared according to the physicochemical and mineralogical characteristics of the raw clays. These were sintered at 900°C, 1000°C and 1100°C and tested for firing shrinkage, flexural strength and water absorption. As a result, various mineralogical transformations occurred at 900–1100°C associated with the crystallization of new phases. The main transformations identified at >1000°C resulted in the formation of anorthite and mullite, causing significant densification of the fired ceramic materials. Sintering at 1100°C increased the densification and thus improved the flexural strength. At this temperature, the sintered ceramic tiles exhibited excellent properties, namely water absorption of 2–3% and flexural strength of 30–41 MPa, indicating that these studied clays might be used as raw materials for the production of stoneware tile ceramics.

Keywords

characterizationfiring propertiesstonewarethermal behaviourTunisian clays
Type
Article
Information
Clay Minerals , Volume 55 , Issue 4 , December 2020 , pp. 351 - 365
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland

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Footnotes

Associate Editor: João Labrincha

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