Effect of ulexite concentrator waste on the physical and mechanical properties and sintering behaviour of floor tile bodies

Abstract

AbstractThe effect of ulexite concentrator waste on the physical and mechanical properties and sintering behaviour of a standard floor tiles (FT) body fired at 1080°C was studied. The linear firing shrinkage, water absorption and fired bending strength of the floor tile/tiles were determined. X-ray diffraction analyses identified quartz, albite, mullite and hematite phases in the floor tiles containing 3 wt.% waste material. The FT body with the smallest water absorption (∼0.2%), the greatest bending strength (∼335 kgf/cm2) and the second greatest linear firing shrinkage values had optimal composition. In light of the excellent physical-mechanical properties and the results of the scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray analyses, the authors determined that the sintering temperature of the FT body containing 3 wt.% ulexite concentrator waste was reduced by 100°C.