Abstract-ThisI. INTRODUCTION The up surge application and request for refractory bricks had motivated this research to investigate the raw clay materials used for production of refractory bricks. The raw clay materials were subjected to standard refractory fireclay brick tests requirement through the tests procedures for chemical, thermal, physical and mechanical properties [1]. Clay as a raw material varied considerably in terms of workability, structure, particle-size distribution, plasticity and mineralogical composition. These differences paved way for clays being categorized or classified into plastic clays, flint clays, kaolin clays, fireclays and ball clays [2]. In the refractory industries, they are grouped and referred to as illite, Montmorillonite and kaolinite [3]. Refractories are clay materials that are generally capable of enduring very high temperatures without deformation, structural changes or softening [4]. The type of refractories is determined by the type of refractory requirement for a specific purpose. The types are classified as acid, basic and neutral refractories [5]. Traditionally these clay materials containAl 2 O 3 .SiO 2 .H 2 O to produce alumino-silicates refractory fireclay bricks. They are further classified by temperature. When the temperature is between 1500-1700 0 C, it is branded as refractory e.g. fireclay.The temperaturebetween 1700-2000 0 Cis recognized as high refractory e.g. chromite. When thetemperature is 2000 0 C, it is referred to as super refractory e.g. zircon [5].The applications of refractories are employed in the construction of furnaceslinings, ladles, reactors, ovens and kiln [6]. This disposition proved that the raw clay material is a fireclay and belongs to the alumino-silicate subgroup. The uses for fireclay refractory brick comprise of porous refractory insulation behind furnace linings, refractory fireclay bricks and ladles [7].Refractories are frequently consumed basically in the iron and steel industries [8]. Contamination of refractories clays are usually with limited amount of impurity as contained in the oxides which are CaO, MgO, TiO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , Mn, SO 3 , ZnO, Cl, K 2 O, P 2 O 5 , Cr 2 O 3 and alkali oxides that acts as fluxing mediator at very high temperature [9]. In the process ofiron and steel production, the use of basic oxygen furnace (BOF) for the molten iron that comes from the blast furnace is decontaminated from the scums.Refractories belonging to silica-alumina have heterogeneous microstructure with bulky grain size and reasonable rate of porosity [10]. In Nigeria, previous investigation work has been done on the characterization of the native refractory raw clay materials for the making of quality refractory fireclay bricks for furnace lining, ladles, ovens and kilns [11]. In many cases, the outcome and results of such previous work were inconclusive and not comprehensive enough to be used or adopted for industrial uses. They were not subjected to standard test requirement for refractory bricks production.The researches for an alterna...

Abstract. The mechanical, chemical and physical property of Alkaleri fireclay was investigated for its appropriateness for refractory application. The chemical composition was performed and analyzed using the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer Bench top XRF analyzer technique. Chemical property result indicated that the clay contained 67.4 % silica (SiO 2 ), 30.06 % aluminum (Al 2 O 3 ), and other impurities. The clay was subjected to mechanical activation through sintering process at varied sintering temperatures of 900 °C, 1000 °C, 1100 °C and 1200 °C. At the best sintering temperature of 1200 °C, the cold crushing strength (CCS) was 17.82 MPa, in the physical properties; apparent porosity was 22.8 %, bulk density was 1.8 g/cm 3 , and firing shrinkage was 8.9 %. The Alkaleri clay belongs to alumino-silicate fireclay group and therefore, suitable materials for refractory application of ladle, kiln dryer, boilers, cook stoves, furnace lining and bricks.

This study focused on the thermal propertiesof the Kpata fireclay in order to look into its refractoriness. Thermogravimetry (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermal conductivity tests were carried out to analyse the fireclay's thermal properties. The fireclay was also compacted and fired at various firing temperatures. The TGA result indicated that there was material weight loss at 0.26 mg, 0.56 mg and 1.74 mg at temperatures of 90.53 °C, 425.12 °C and 578.87 °C respectively. The DTA revealed that there were exothermic and endothermic material reactions.The Kpata fireclay also had a thermal conductivity of 0.33 K (W/m.k). Apparent porosity of fired fireclay showed that the porosity was reduced as firing temperature increased. These conditions indicated that Kpata fireclay has the possibility in refractory and insulating applications.

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