Assessment of technological properties of calcareous and non-calcareous clays used for the brick-making industry of Zaragoza (Spain)
The granulometric, mineralogical, and geochemical features of two different types of clayey raw materials (carbonated clays, CC; and non-carbonated clays, NCC) used for the brickmaking industry near Zaragoza (Spain) have been studied. Their particle-size distribution suggests that they may be classified as silty clays and are suitable for use as thin-walled hollow bricks. For technological testing, prismatic bars obtained by extrusion under vacuum conditions from raw materials were fired from 800 to 1050 °C. Technological determinations, such as linear shrinkage, bulk density, hydric tests, and an accelerated decay test, indicate that both CC and NCC are suitable to be used as bricks for building, although bricks made of NCC would be of better quality. In addition, pore-size distribution suggests that the durability of the highest temperature fired products will be higher because of an increase both in the dominant pore access radius and in the percentage of larger pore sizes.
Mechanical properties of ceramic whiteware samples with different amounts of quartz addition
A B ST R A C T Ceramic whiteware represents one of the most complex ceramics, formulated from a mix of china clay, ball clay and quartz are sintered to conform a ceramic composite. Ceramic whiteware has excellent technical characteristics. Nowadays, research of new materials, for example non-hazardous wastes, that are able to replace the traditional fluxing agent without changing the process or quality of the final products has been realized. The aim of this work is to study the possibility of the use of quartz, in ceramic whiteware mixtures, for manufacturing of electrical ceramic whiteware bodies. It was prepared by mixtures containing different amounts of china clay, ball clay, feldspar and quartz. The samples were fired reaching different maximum temperatures in the range 950-1250 oC, with a soaking time of 1 hour. The fired samples were characterized and the use of small amounts of quartz in addition with whiteware samples showed good results of mechanical technological properties. The optimum quartz percentage (25%) S1 samples at 1250 uC gives the maximum bending strength.
Energy
Energy is often defined as the ability to do work. There are many forms of energy. A few examples include; Gravitational energy, Kinetic energy (energy of motion), Thermal energy (heat energy), Potential energy. Potential energy is the energy something has based on its position in the universe. A stretched elastic band has potential energy. A rock held up in the air has potential energy based on its position.