Caracterização da argila de Belice, em Miguel Alves (Piauí), para a produção de cerâmica vermelha

Abstract

Ceramic products have been part of society since ancient times, when they were used to store water, food, special oils and also as a way of worshipping gods. The raw material is clay and when it comes into contact with water it acquires plasticity, a property that is essential for the manufacture of ceramic pieces. The red ceramics industry manufactures products that can be used in civil construction, but it is necessary to have prior knowledge of the raw material for application purposes. Therefore, the aim of this work is to characterize the clay from an industry that manufactures ceramic sealing blocks to check whether the final product complies with ABNT 15270/2017 standards. The raw materials were analyzed chemically and mineralogically, thermally and technologically. The specimens made were subjected to analysis of water absorption (AA), apparent specific mass (MEA), flexural strength modulus (MRF), fire loss (PF), apparent porosity (PA) and linear shrinkage (RL). The results of the diffractogram showed muscovite, orthoclase, quartz and iron phosphate, but the latter were higher in the lean and fat clay, respectively. Both clays had a plasticity limit within the recommended range, but only the fat clay had the liquidity limit recommended in the literature. As for the plasticity index, the fat clay was classified as moderately plastic and the lean clay as weakly plastic. All the test specimens for formulations F1, F2 and F3 showed values within the recommended range for the production of sealing blocks. Of all the formulations proposed (except for the witnesses), F2 and F3 showed positive results for the MRF.