Influência da matéria-prima e da queima sobre as propriedades de produtos obtidos com massas da cerâmica vermelha.

Abstract

Currently the production of red ceramic industry uses two firing cycles, slow and fast. However, the low rate is more used in traditional ceramic, periods often reached 24-48 hours, causing delay in the production and therefore increased consumption of thermal energy. This work aimed to evaluate the influence of heating rate on the microstructure and properties of parts obtained from masses used to obtain products of red ceramic. For this purpose, it was used clay masses provided by two red ceramics industries from the state of Paraíba and one from the state of Rio Grande do Norte. The masses were humidified, until reaching the adequate plasticity, remained in rest for 24 hours, and then were submitted to the process of extrusion. Then they were sintered in a laboratory electrical oven, at temperatures of 800, 900 and 1000oC, with different heating rates: 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30oC/min. After the sintering stage it was determined the following properties: water absorption, linear shrinkage, apparent porosity and mechanical bending resistance in three points. The color after firing also was evaluated. The oxide contents and plasticity presented in the ceramic masses are consistent with the ones used for the production of red ceramics. Parts obtained from the mass containing smaller amounts of iron oxide and alkali oxides, when subjected to heating rates faster showed better stability and technological properties. It can be observed for the three temperatures, the presence of characteristic peaks for quartz, mica anorthite, illite, hematite and mullite. The fracture surfaces of the parts were characterized by rough textures, presence of isolated and interconnected pores, cracks and quartz particles. For higher heating rates was possible to observe the presence of larger pores and regions with spongy characteristic.