DYNA JOURNAL ENGINEERING

Key words:

Kaolin clay, sanitary ceramics, raw materials, physicochemical characterization, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, particle size distribution, plasticity, thermal analysis, Algerian kaolin, sustainable materials, ceramic industry

Article type:

ARTICULO DE INVESTIGACION / RESEARCH ARTICLE

Section:

RESEARCH ARTICLES

The objective of this work is to valorize a kaolin clay extracted from the eastern Algerian region "El-Milia" by purifications and studying its physicochemical properties. Thus, characterization was carried out by the X fluorescence analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, true density and plasticity measurements, laser granulometry and finally thermal analysis. The results obtained from X fluorescence show that silica and alumina are predominant. The XRD confirms the mineralogical composition of these clays. Clay purification decreases the values true density and particles sizes, however; it increases plasticity. DSC analysis gives information on important transformation domains, such as; constitution water vaporization between 400 and 660 °C, a quartz transformation to ß quartz around 574°C, Mullite (2SiO23AL2O3) formation around 985°C and illustrates allotropic transformation of Al2O3 between 1005°C and 1055°C. Infrared spectroscopy shows the characteristic absorptions domains of kaolinite, silica and other clay components.

Keywords: Kaolinite, purification, plasticity.