The Effects of Sintering Temperature and Agro Wastes on the Properties of Insulation Bricks

Abstract

In this research, kaolin, ball clay, sawdust and rice husk were used to produce insulation bricks through the solid state synthesis method. Two temperatures, 1100oC and 1200oC were used to sinter the green samples. X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy, compressive strength tests etc. were used to analyse the properties of the produced bricks. Chemical composition analysis on the starting raw materials showed that SiO2 and Al2O3 were the major constituents while Fe2O3, Na2O, K2O and TiO2 were the minor constituents. As the amounts of kaolin used in preparing the samples decrease, the bulk density, modulus of rupture and cold crushing strength of the bricks decreases while the water absorption capacity, linear shrinkage increases. The thermal analysis showed that on heating the samples, the reactions were mainly exothermic with between 8 to 10 mW/mg of heat released. The morphology of the samples showed that the pores began to collapse when the amount of kaolin present is below 70 wt. %. Sintering the samples at 1100oC and 1200oC led to slightly different values in the results and is therefore very significant.
 Keywords: Insulation bricks, Kaolin, sawdust, rice husk, temperature effects

Mechanical Properties of Fireclay Bricks from Binaliw Clay

“…The conversion of quartz to cristobalite consequently closes the pores [7]. This phenomenon improves the mechanical properties while reduces the volume of the bricks [6].…”

“…At 14000C, the bricks totally melted. According to the Silica-Alumina phase diagram [6], with a silica content of approximately 40%, melting temperature should be somewhere near 16000C. Unfortunately, due to the high amount of fluxing agents (Table I), melting began at a lower temperature of approximately 1400 0 C.…”

“…These types of bricks are different from their high-alumina aluminosilicate refractory counterparts which have greater than 50% alumina content. According to the Silica-Alumina phase diagram [6], high alumina bricks have a higher eutectic point thereby inhabiting higher refractory properties than their silica-rich firebrick counterparts. Nevertheless, fireclay bricks are still widely used for their low cost and ease of fabrication [7].…”

A Simulation and Experimental Investigation of the Thermal Characteristics of Refractory Bricks Produced Using Fireclay and Agroforestry Wastes

“…Refractory bricks play a very important role in the manufacturing industry mainly in the lining of furnaces, kilns, fireboxes and fireplaces. They can be inorganic, non-metallic in nature and depending on how porous they are, can be classified into two categories; dense and porous (insulating) refractories [2]. Insulating refractory bricks also known as porous refractory bricks are usually light in weight, low in thermal conductivity and resistant to high temperature [3].…”

“…The results show that the kaolin deposit at Oghara was found to be the best material suitable for the lining of the walls of most high thermally operated equipment as its fusion temperature is above the operating temperature of 1200°C. In [2], authors researched on the effects of sintering temperature and agro-wastes on the properties of insulation bricks. In this research, kaolin, ball clay, sawdust and rice husk were used to produce insulation bricks through the solid-state synthesis method.…”