Influência da adição de chamote nas propriedades tecnológicas e microestruturais do adoquim

Abstract

The use of chamotte in ceramic products is relevant, because the use of this residue can minimize the environmental impact, in addition to reducing costs with raw materials, as it is a material used in the production process itself. This study aims to analyze the influence of the addition of chamotte on the technological and microstructural properties of the paving brick. The raw materials were acquired in a red ceramic industry located in the Teresina region and were characterized by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, rational analysis, thermal analysis, optical microscopy, granulometry, plasticity and residual analysis. Formulations were carried out with percentages of 0%, 2,5%, 5%, 10% and 20% of chamotte. The specimens were prepared by uniaxial pressing with dimensions of approximately 80 mm x 10 mm x 10mm and burned at temperatures of 950 °C, 1050 °C and 1150 °C. The technological properties analyzed were linear drying and burning retraction, loss to fire, water absorption, apparent porosity, apparent specific mass, uniaxial compression resistance and abrasion resistance. The technological properties were compared between the specimens produced in the laboratory and the paving bricks collected and produced in an industry located in the Teresina region. The macrostructure and microstructure of the samples tested were also examined. Then, it was verified whether the specimens meet the technical specifications required by the rules that deal with the use of paving brick in places with pedestrian circulation and light vehicle traffic or in regions with heavy vehicle traffic, commercial sidewalks and industrial applications.The addition of chamotte improved the technological properties of linear drying and firing shrinkage and loss to fire. In the other properties, the addition of this residue did not cause relevant loss. The macrostructure and microstructure were also not significantly influenced by the addition of chamotte to the ceramic mass. Thus, according to the results obtained, it was concluded that the use of chamotte is feasible in the production of paving brick, because, despite the addition of this residue, excellenttechnological properties were obtained in the specimens, especially from the temperature of 1050 ºC.