Properties and microstructure of porous ceramic bodies containing fly ash

Abstract

Effect of two kinds of fly ash collected from the thermal power plants on the green properties and sintering behavior of clay ceramic tile bodies was investigated. Flow time, unit weight, color difference, water absorption, flexural strength, and linear shrinkage of the ceramic samples with four different fly ash percentages of replacement with feldspath varying between 0% and 20% by weight were determined. Furthermore, thermal characterization and morphology of phases of selected ceramic compositions were studied. This work proves the possibility of using fly ashes with appropriate physicochemical properties in manufacturing porous clay ceramic tiles with satisfactory features suitable for construction industry. Comparison of the properties of the resulting tile bodies with varying proportions of different fly ashes indicated that tiles with acceptable properties can be obtained by introducing up to 10% of fly ash by weight into the clay ceramic mixes.