The effect of natural fiber ratio on mechanical properties of kaolin/fly–ash at low temperature ceramics

Abstract

Abstract This study aims to increase the feasibility of ceramics at low temperature using natural fibers. The ceramics (Ce) were prepared by mixing a powder of kaolin and fly–ash at an equal ratio of 50:50 wt.%. The mixture was milled by ball–milling technique. The natural fibers ceramics (CeNF) were created by adding local pineapple leaves to kaolin and fly–ash powder. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to amorphous observation and particle size determination. The compositions of Ce and CeNF were investigated by using X–ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The mechanical properties of ceramics were determined by hardness and density test. The results showed that the grinding of kaolin and fly–ash for 4 h produced the highest strength Ce. For the addition of local pineapple leaves at 2 wt.%, the strength could be increased from 92.9 kgf to 118.3 kgf.