Sintering Behavior and Technological Properties of Low-Temperature Porcelain Tiles Prepared Using a Lithium Ore and Silica Crucible Waste

Abstract

Porcelain tiles are a building material that has been widely used in recent years and that consumes substantial resources during the sintering process. This study reports on the production of low-temperature porcelain tiles by using low-grade lithium ore (LO) and silica crucible waste (SCW) in a new SiO2–Al2O3–Na2O–K2O–Li2O system. The firing temperature of the porcelain tiles was reduced from 1260 °C to 1070 °C by adding 30% LO instead of feldspar in a modified triaxial ceramic body, and SCW was recycled and used as a raw material. These actions help to reduce the carbon emissions produced during sintering and achieve sustainable development. The effect of phase transitions on the sintering and technological properties of the porcelain tiles was studied by quantitative phase analysis, using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Secondary mullite (0–19%) can be formed at 1040–1100 °C, where more quartz and cristobalite will be retained, which increases the rupture modulus of the porcelain tiles. While the vitreous phase increases rapidly at 1100–1160 °C, the closed pores (0.1–33.1%) will simultaneously expand, causing a decrease in compactness. The results show that low-grade LO (with a cost similar to that of feldspar) allows for the production of porcelain tiles with better process performance at lower temperatures (≤1100 °C).