Characterization of clays and preparation of ceramic mass with additives, for aggregate value to handmade ceramics produced in the city of Indiana/SP

• Grant number: 13/16154-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2013
• End date: September 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Silvio Rainho Teixeira
• Grantee: Carlos Kuhn Faccioli
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Indiana is known for producing red ceramic materials, which has two main segments: structural ceramics and handmade pottery. The manufacture of structural materials includes those used in building construction such as blocks and bricks. The handmade pottery is responsible for the production of household items such as pots, vessels and water filters. Currently, there are 21 ceramic industries, including 14 producing vessels (only 3 of them also produce filters) and 7 producing common and holed bricks. The properties of the ceramic product are dependent on the raw materials used, combinations of these, and additives used in the sintering process. To determine the properties of raw materials and ceramic materials must be realized a series of simple tests (preliminary tests) and technical tests using more sophisticated equipment for determining the chemical composition and identify minerals (mainly clay minerals) present in the samples.In this project, it is being proposed the characterization of the raw materials used for and preparation of ceramic materials with additives to improve the properties of the ceramic handmade in Indiana, adding value to the ceramic pieces. To achieve this goal, will be prepared ceramic bodies with additives (fluxes) to aid the sintering process of the ceramic material. These fluxes, alkali metals and alkaline earth metals in general are minerals such as feldspar or nephelines, industrial waste, among others. This work proposes the incorporation of fluxes (nepheline and/or feldspar) and powdered glass (soda-lime) of disposable containers, such as an additive for improving the properties of ceramic material and enhances this residue. The work is divided into four phases that consist of: (1) review and study of the literature, (2) collection and characterization of raw materials, using physical and chemical methods, (3) preparation of test samples (probes) for ceramic properties characterization, and (4) results analysis, reporting and preparation of the final paper for presentation at scientific meeting and/or publication.