CHARACTERIZATION OF CERAMICS WALL TILES USING LOCAL TALC AS A FLUXING AGENT
Iftikhar Ahmad1, Sahar Noor1
ABSTRACT
Talc, a magnesium silicate mineral, is abundantly available in Pakistan. Internationally talc is used with other raw materials to produce wall tiles. But due to difference in mineralogical locations of the local talc and other raw materials, a local optimum wall tile composition was needed which can lead to the utilization of abundant talc resources in Pakistan. Considering this fact, here, several different compositions are arranged and analyzed. The variation within these compositions bases on gradual increase in talc percentage which drastically boosted fired strength, stabilized thermal shrinkage, thermal expansion to an optimum level and controlled the excessive water absorption. All these properties variations are in favor of good and free of defects wall tiles. The use of talc indicated that a normal strength (200-220 kg/cm2) can be acquired using 20% talc even at lower temperature of 1030-1050°C compared to 1160-1167°C used in local industry. This substantial decrease of nearly 100°C in production temperature will reduce the energy cost for wall tile production. In addition talc's use is economical because of its cheaper cost than other fluxes like feldspar and lime stone.
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June 2010
Vol 29 No 1 (2010)
