Processamento de argila da região de Itaporanga-PB, visando obter produtos de cerâmica vermelha.

Abstract

The Brazilian ceramics industry has great importance for the country. It has a participation in the GIP (gross domestic product) around 1%, and the red structural ceramics are the one that more provides jobs for the Brazilian people. This specific activity is specially observed in Paraiba. Situated in the hinterland of Paraiba, on the edges of the Pianco river, the city of Itaporanga has a large amount of clay deposits. This raw material is not very much explored at this area, that is because of the small size of the industries from the area (potteries). Therefore the objective of this research work is to study the clay from the city of Itaporanga, to find applications in the manufacture of red ceramics products, through the conformation processes as: pressing, extrusion, lamination. This research work analyzed Itaporanga's clay from a chemistry and ore points of views. It was dong chemical analyses (AQ), x-ray diffraction (DRX), and thermal analysis (ATD). The ceramics preliminary analysis was carried through adopting the methodology proposal by Sousa Santos (1992). For the complete assays, foreseeing a possible application of the clay in structural red ceramics (ceramic blocks and roofing tiles) the Barzaghi & Salge (1982) considered maximum limits had been adopted. The test bodies had been submitted to the slow burning, at the temperatures 800°C, 900°C, 1000°C, 1100°C. For a possible application of the clay, using the natural mass and a mass formulated in the production of ceramic plates had been adopted the norms of ISO 10545/ABNT 13818. The test bodies had been submitted to the fast burning in temperatures of 1000°C, 1100°C e 1150°C. Flexural strength, water absorption, apparent porosity and linear shrinkage of burning had been determined, after sintering. The results had confirmed that the Itaporanga's clay is adjusted to be used in the industry of products of red ceramics e (ceramic blocks and roofing tiles) using the extrusion and pressing process and ceramic plates through processes of lamination and pressing.