Application of slaker grits industrial waste as a primary calcium oxide source in a ceramic frit formulation

Abstract

Wastes management studies concerning slaker grits, a rich calcium carbonate landfilled residue from the pulp and paper industry, are focused on their application in the construction field due to their calcareous nature. To the best of our knowledge, slaker grits addition in a high calcium content ceramic frit formulation and their behavior as a glaze has not yet been explored, being the aim of this work. Grits were added as a calcium oxide source in 0, 50%, and 100%, and the frits were analyzed regarding their chemical composition, devitrification, sintering behavior, morphology, colorimetric coordinates, and scratch resistance. By means of comparison, the commercial frit was also characterized. The glazes were analyzed by their physical and thermal properties and scratch resistance. Grits did not prevent the vitreous phases obtention and, compared to the commercial frit, presented a similar behavior, although resulted in higher wollastonite devitrification that directly affected glazes' thermal properties, sintering contraction, linear thermal expansion coefficient, among others. A great outcome was the quartz scratch resistance of the glaze containing the highest grits content, revealing an optimized behavior. Grits residue proved to be a promising alternative raw material capable of generating sustainable and economic perspectives for the ceramic coating sector.