12 - Clay-Based Construction Products

Abstract

The chapter explores that the performance of clay-based construction products, e.g., bricks and roofing tiles, can be monitored using thermal methods. The types of raw materials, viz., clay and accessory minerals, and their reactions that occur during the firing process and the durability of clay products can be examined through the application of differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetry (TG), and dilatometric methods. This is particularly important for quality control as physical and chemical behaviors are dependent on the raw material characteristics, e.g., composition, particle size, and morphology. This chapter focuses on the application of thermal methods specific to raw materials suitable for industrial clay products that are suitable for brick-making. Details of thermal processes for the following materials are discussed: singular, binary, and ternary clay-based systems; structural ceramics; solid waste in clay bricks; significant archaeological clay products; and brick-clay products from Central Europe.