Addition of sodium carbonate to reinforce unglazed ceramic tile

Abstract

Nowadays, the study of the improvement of mechanical properties is of great importance in the ceramic industry. The strenuous demand to which industrial processes are subjected leads to the search for new raw materials in the production lines that transfer superior characteristics to the finished product, standing out in the search for non-synthetic raw materials of mineral origin that contribute greater savings when added to the manufacturing process of the material. This study is focused on the use of sodium carbonate as an alternative raw material in the process of making ceramic tiles, sodium carbonate was obtained from two sources, one synthetic (soda ash) and the other mineral (trona). Within the research, additions of 0.15, 0.30, 0.45% of soda (Na2CO3) and 0.30, 0.60 and 0.90% of trona were made in the formulation of the ceramic body and properties such as density, compressive strength and modulus of rupture were evaluated. The results obtained indicate an improvement of up to 65% in the compressive strength when adding 0.9% of the trona and a 30% increase in the modulus of rupture thanks to the insertion of sodium carbonate.