Development of Refractory Bricks from Ajebo Clay for Industrial Applications.

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Abstract

Refractory bricks are engineering nonmetallic materials that maintain their chemical and structural properties at intensive temperature. This work developed refractory bricks using Ajebo Kaolin as base material, Groundnut Shell Ash (GSA) and Rice Husk Ash (RHA) as additive materials. In this finding, five samples of Ajebo kaolin was characterized, for their chemical compositions by Wet Analytical Method (WAM), X-Ray Florescence (XRF) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) technique. The Results of the chemical analysis show 47.64% Al2O3 and 33.71% SiO2 as two major contents of chemical present. Rice Husk Ash (RHA) and Groundnut Shell Ash (GSA) are the additives, with SiO2 and Al2O3 percentage compositions of 77.39% and 0.16%; 26.96% and 5.82% in RHA and GSA respectively, were used in the bricks development. The developed refractory bricks can be used for lining the walls of furnaces, ovens, crucibles and kilns. Proper blend with 5% RHA additive and above 20% percent GSA additives, gives an improved brick compressive strength. GSA has high density over RHA additive, and high shrinkage property over RHA additive, at 10% and 15% additives. All the test results obtained are within the acceptable range specified by ISO 9001 standard. Ajebo clay enhanced with RHA and GSA met the parameters for refractory bricks production, and is therefore recommended for industrial application

Keywords: Kaolin, Refractory, RHA, Development, Bricks

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