Influence of Weather Exposure on Dimensional Changes in Clay Ceramics Incorporated with Granite Residue

Abstract

Ceramic materials such as bricks and tiles used in civil construction, may eventually be exposed to weather conditions and undergo degradation with time. Although this degradation has been studied in common plain ceramics, it has not yet been investigated in clay ceramics incorporated with ornamental stone residues. In the present work the degradation suffered by clay ceramics incorporated with 5 and 10 wt % of a granite residue under weathering for 6, 8 and 10 months was evaluated. The incorporated and plain ceramics were fired at temperatures of 500, 700 and 900°C. The linear dimensional changes were measured just after firing as well as after 180, 240 and 300 days, respectively, 6, 8 and 10 months. In general, the linear dimensions tend to increase with time and firing temperature. The role of absorbed water on these changes is discussed.