The Influence of Ferrous Metallurgy Waste in the Aktobe Region on the Frost Resistance of Ceramic Bricks Based on Low-Melting Clay

Abstract

The research objective is studying the effect of tailing slurry of chromite ore beneficiation on the phase composition and frost resistance of ceramic bricks obtained based on low-melting clay. For the study, two compositions were taken, % wt.: 1) the optimal composition ─ low-melting clay of the Ilek deposit - 70, tailing slurry of chromite ore beneficiation, 2) the reference composition ─ low-melting clay of the Ilek deposit - 100. Raw materials were crushed to pass through a sieve No. 1.0 mm; then, the components were thoroughly mixed. The bricks were prepared by melting at a batch moisture content of 22 %. The mold bricks were dried to a residual moisture content of 5 % max. The dried bricks were fired at temperatures, оС: 950 (the glass phase emergence), and 1,050 (the final brick firing temperature). The increased content of iron oxide (Fe2O3=12.3 %) and alkali oxides (R2O=3.2 %) in the tailing slurry of chromite ore beneficiation contributed to the liquid phase emergence at 950 оС. Colorless, yellowish, and brown glasses with refractive indices N within 1.50-1.54, forming as a result of melting of spars and mixed-layer clayey formations, were observed under the microscope in the studied prototypes of composition No. 1 at a firing temperature of 950 °C. In the composition No. 2, a liquid phase also emerges, but in smaller quantities. Adding tailing slurry of chromite ore beneficiation to ceramic masses contributes to the formation of anorthite and glass phase in prototypes based on low-melting clay at a firing temperature of 950 °C. An increase in the firing temperature to 1,050 °C increases the content of the glass phase and anorthite, which significantly improves the frost resistance of ceramic bricks.