Transactions of the Indian Ceramic Society, cilt.82, sa.4, ss.265-270, 2023 (SCI-Expanded)
This paper is a study from mineralogical and physico-chemical points of view about the possibility of using Arslanlar clay in tile and brick industry. Firstly, chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal analysis/thermogravimetry and plasticity measurements were performed to determine the unfired characterization of the clay sample. It was observed that illite, smectite, kaolinite, calcite, hematite, orthoclase and quartz were the main minerals. Plasticity tests revealed that Arslanlar clay was very high plastic clay. Then the clay test samples were prepared by pressing and firing separately at temperatures between 850° and 1100°C to evaluate physicochemical characteristics. Water absorption, linear shrinkage, bulk density, bending strength tests and colour measurement were performed. Also the fired samples were analyzed by XRD and scanning electron microscopy. It was observed that the porosity decreased and the densification increased with increasing temperature, especially above 1050°C. Evaluations concluded that this clay can be used in production of structural ceramics and also pottery.