Thermal Behaviour of Silica Waste from a Geothermal Power Station and Derived Silica Ceramics

Abstract

The silica waste originating from a geothermal power plant in Mexico was investigated with the aim of finding its applicability as a raw secondary material for ceramics production. The thermal behaviour of the original silica waste (containing NaCl and KCl from marine brine) and of the purified silica was characterized by means of DTA/TG, emanation thermal analysis (ETA) and thermodilatometry (TD). The reactivity of the purified silica waste mixed with CaCO3 (1.8 mass%) was characterized by means of ETA, DTA and TG. The microstructures and phase compositions of the final products prepared by heating in air were tested by means of X-ray diffraction and of scanning electron microscopy coupled with electron probe X-ray microanalysis. The thermal analysis methods allowed determination of the optimal conditions for thermal treatment of the silica waste in order to obtain partly sintered porous materials for use as refractory bricks.