Preparation and properties of binary and ternary composite solids in the clay-mica-glass system

Abstract

Abstract Binary and ternary composite solids in the clay-mica-glass system have been fabricated by combining both natural mica flakes of the phlogopite type and ground powders prepared from recycled waste glass, and clay grains and mixtures of clay-glass powders, employing a simple sintering process at temperatures in the range of 850–1050°C. Results of the study showed that these composites have very different physical appearance and material characteristics. In the glass-mica system, mixtures can be fabricated into composite solids which exhibit either a porous cellular structure or a densified ceramic structure. The mixtures can also be fabricated into multilayer structural products consisting of both the cellular structure layer and the densified structure layer. In the clay-mica binary system and in the clay-mica-glass ternary system, mixtures can be readily fabricated into composite solids with low density and low thermal conductivity. All coposite solids showed excellent insulation properties and would contribute to energy conservation when used for building envelope design applications.