Application of grits waste as a renewable carbonate material in manufacturing wall tiles

Abstract

This work focuses on the reuse of grits waste, from cellulose industry, as a raw material to replace traditional carbonate material in ceramic wall tiles. Wall tile formulations bearing up to 15 wt% of the grits waste were prepared for replacement of calcareous. The tile manufacturing route consisted of dry powder granulation, uniaxial pressing, and firing at temperatures ranging from 1100 °C to 1180 °C by using a fast-firing cycle. The wall tile specimens were tested to determine their physical and mechanical properties (linear shrinkage, water absorption, apparent porosity, apparent density, breaking strength, and flexural strength). The firing behavior, phase transformations, and microstructure were evaluated by dilatometry, XRD, and SEM. The results showed that the fired wall tile specimens are composed of anorthite and quartz, as major mineral phases, and mullite as a minor phase. It was found that the grits waste had a positive influence on the properties and microstructure of the wall tile specimens. The results also revealed that the grits waste from cellulose industry could be used as a total replacement of traditional calcareous material in wall tile formulations.