TY - JOUR
T1 - Numidian clay deposits as raw material for ceramics tile manufacturing
AU - Moussi, B.
AU - Hajjaji, W.
AU - Hachani, M.
AU - Hatira, N.
AU - Labrincha, J. A.
AU - Yans, J.
AU - Jamoussi, F.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was financed by the Ministry of Higher Education , Scientific Research and Technology (Tunisia) , and the Belgian-Tunisian project “Valorisation des argiles” of the Wallonie-Bruxelles International (WBI) . Thanks are due for the support of the CTMCCV (Centre Techniques de Matériaux de Construction de Céramique et du Verre Tunis - Tunisie).
Funding Information:
This research was financed by the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technology (Tunisia), and the Belgian-Tunisian project ?Valorisation des argiles? of the Wallonie-Bruxelles International (WBI). Thanks are due for the support of the CTMCCV (Centre Techniques de Mat?riaux de Construction de C?ramique et du Verre Tunis - Tunisie).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2020/4
Y1 - 2020/4
N2 - We investigate the potential use in traditional ceramics of several clays collected in the Numidian Flysch Formation (Upper Oligocene) at Tabarka, and Sejnane; Northern part of Tunisia). The valorisation of these adopts the technique of dry process, which requires a mixture of powdered clay with 7% water. This allows rapid drying of uncooked tiles. The tiles are fired at four different temperatures (1000 °C, 1050 °C, 1100 °C and 1150 °C) in order to optimize technological parameters such as shrinkage, water absorption and flexural strength. The obtained tiles show acceptable drying and firing shrinkage (not exceeding 3%), and bending strength (between 13 and 16 N/mm2) which are close to the required standards (EN ISO 10545–4, 15N/mm2 for wall tiles). The absorption ranges from 10 to 20%, which classifies these products in group BIII according to the international standards (ISO 13006 and EN ISO 10545–3). Variation of shrinkage and water absorption with the firing temperature reveals that optimal range is 1125–1150 °C for the Tabarka samples, whereas the Sejnane products might be fired at lower values (~1025 °C). The Tabarka fired pieces exhibit strong brightness. These results suggest that these latter clays could be used for white products such as sanitary ware formulations while those from Sejnane ones are more appropriated for colored (red) applications. The X-ray diffraction on the fired tiles powders shows the formation of quartz which is initially present in the crude clays, and mullite that is present at all firing temperatures. Moreover, the presence of mullite due to the richness of Al2O3 in Tabarka clays could support their refractory properties.
AB - We investigate the potential use in traditional ceramics of several clays collected in the Numidian Flysch Formation (Upper Oligocene) at Tabarka, and Sejnane; Northern part of Tunisia). The valorisation of these adopts the technique of dry process, which requires a mixture of powdered clay with 7% water. This allows rapid drying of uncooked tiles. The tiles are fired at four different temperatures (1000 °C, 1050 °C, 1100 °C and 1150 °C) in order to optimize technological parameters such as shrinkage, water absorption and flexural strength. The obtained tiles show acceptable drying and firing shrinkage (not exceeding 3%), and bending strength (between 13 and 16 N/mm2) which are close to the required standards (EN ISO 10545–4, 15N/mm2 for wall tiles). The absorption ranges from 10 to 20%, which classifies these products in group BIII according to the international standards (ISO 13006 and EN ISO 10545–3). Variation of shrinkage and water absorption with the firing temperature reveals that optimal range is 1125–1150 °C for the Tabarka samples, whereas the Sejnane products might be fired at lower values (~1025 °C). The Tabarka fired pieces exhibit strong brightness. These results suggest that these latter clays could be used for white products such as sanitary ware formulations while those from Sejnane ones are more appropriated for colored (red) applications. The X-ray diffraction on the fired tiles powders shows the formation of quartz which is initially present in the crude clays, and mullite that is present at all firing temperatures. Moreover, the presence of mullite due to the richness of Al2O3 in Tabarka clays could support their refractory properties.
KW - Ceramic tiles
KW - Clays
KW - Sejnane
KW - Tabarka
KW - Technological parameters
KW - Tunisia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85078749881&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2020.103775
DO - 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2020.103775
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85078749881
SN - 1464-343X
VL - 164
JO - Journal of African Earth Sciences
JF - Journal of African Earth Sciences
M1 - 103775
ER -