INVESTIGATION OF THE PROPERTIES OINVESTIGATION OF THE PROPERTIES OF CLAY RAW MATERIALS BY METHODS OF PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

The article presents the results of the study of the properties of clay raw materials using modern methods of physico-chemical analysis: X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermal analysis. Two types of clay raw materials based on the color of the ceramic shard were considered: light-burning and red-burning clays. The studied clay raw materials contain a small amount of clay minerals and a high content of dusty particles, belong to moderately plastic and medium plastic clays and loams. X-ray spectral analysis allowed to determine the chemical quantitative composition of the main oxides of clay raw materials. Thermal analysis of natural clay raw materials, which have a polymineral composition, reveals exothermic and endothermic effects characteristic of the studied minerals – montmorillonite and kaolinite. According to the mineral composition, the clay raw materials of Central Yakutia are polymineral, with the main clay minerals being montmorillonite and kaolinite, and quartz, calcite, chlorite, minerals from the mica and feldspar groups, and mixed-layer minerals found as impurities. The low quality of the clay raw material suggests that further research should be conducted to improve the technological and physical-mechanical properties of ceramic products made from local clay raw material. In the design of raw material mixtures, local natural and man-made mineral raw materials can be used.