Characterization of a Quartzite Residue and its Application in Red Clay Ceramics

Abstract

The fabrication of conventional red clay ceramics products for civil construction, such as bricks and roofing tiles, normally uses other raw materials like sand, in addition to clay, as a way to condition the final ceramic properties. Quartzite residues, from ornamental stone processing in the northeast region of Brazil, could be used as possible conditioner material for clay body in a ceramic industry owing to its similar characteristics to common sand. In the present work, complementing a recent publication on the same materials, a quartzite residue was characterized and its potential as a red clay ceramic addition was evaluated for different composition up to 40 wt%. The results indicated economical advantages in association with some technical benefits.