Análise técnica de blocos cerâmicos de diferentes olarias do sertão paraibano.

Abstract

The ceramic industry is one of the oldest, and it has been developing alongside humanity, playing a fundamental role in the construction sector. Ceramic blocks, which are widely used, stand out in this industry. However, the techniques adopted by pottery workshops for the manufacturing of these blocks directly influence their quality and performance. In most cases, the labor employed lacks any qualification, and the methods used are still outdated, resulting in the production of blocks with various defects.The objective of this study is to conduct a technical and comparative analysis of different ceramic blocks produced in the rural region of Paraíba, Brazil, in accordance with ABNT NBR 15270/2017 and the compression strength test of prisms defined in ABNT 16868-3/2020. Seventeen ceramic blocks were used for each pottery workshop, totaling 68 blocks. Thirteen blocks were allocated for the assessment of visual, geometric, physical, and mechanical characteristics, while four blocks were used for the prisms.The parameters taken into account were visual analysis, geometric analysis, physical analysis, and mechanical analysis. In several of these parameters, the pottery workshops failed to meet the requirements. For instance, in the mechanical strength analysis, none of the blocks reached a value close to 1.5 MPa. The most promising analysis for the blocks was the water absorption index, where all ceramic blocks fell within the range of 8 to 25% moisture content.After the completion of all evaluations, it was possible to conclude that none of the four selected pottery workshops comply with the respective standards, indicating that the blocks used in constructions in the rural region of Paraíba are of low quality.