Abstract:
Characterization and analys
is of Gwandu clay deposits has been conducted with a
view to finding its possible industrial applications. The chemical analysis was carried
out using XRF and thermal stability was determined using TGA. While the physical
property tests such as firing shrinkage, porosity, cold crushing strength, bulk density,
thermal shock resistance and refractoriness were done. The results of chemical
analysis indicates that Dabagi clay is composed of
SiO2 (64.50%), Al2O3 (16.30%), Fe2O3 (14.29%), CaO(0.29%), TiO2(1.17%), K2O (0.74%), and other oxides in traces and Fadama clay has SiO2(55.90%), Al2O3(13.90%), Fe2O3(24.45%), CaO (0.75%), TiO2(1.71%), K2O (1.13%) and other oxides in traces.
Termite hills clay on the other
hand gave
SiO2(25.00%),Al2O3(6.30%),
3
(30.63%) CaO (
1.00%
)
, TiO
2
(
3.02%)
and other traces. However, the TG analysis shows the changes in the clays when
heated. The clays started losing water when heated
up to
200
-
300
0
C.The significant
changes where observed
between 500
0
C to 700
0
C where d
ehydration of clay material
occurred for Dabagi and Fadama clays. The results of the physical tests conducted
show: Dabagi has a Pa
-
38.46%, Bd
-
1.81g/cm
3
, LS
-
6.80%, TSR
-
7 cycles, CCS
-
5.44Km
2
, PCE
-
13 and LOI
-
4.46
%
. Fadama clay: Pa
-
40.29%, Bd
-
1.79g/cm
3
, LS
-
6
.00%,
TSR
-
5 cycles, CCS
-
5.17
Km
2
, PCE
-
13 and LOI
-
3.69
%
. And
T
ermite clay: Pa
-
46.15,
Bd
-
1.54g/cm3, LS
-
5
.80%, TSR
-
3 cycles, CCS
-
4.59Km
2
, PCE
-
12 and LOI
-
3.69.Rice
husk ash, kaolin and limestone clays were also incorporated (as an inert or non
-
plastic
additive) in the moulding mass which gave an improvement in the physical properties.
The results obtained confirmed that the clays are basically earthenware clays and can
be used in the bricks, tile, roof tile, drain tile and other heavy clay products production
.
