Low Temperature Ceramic Materials via Alkaline Activation of Illite Clays
7th Baltic Conference on Silicate Materials BaltSilica 2016: Book of Abstracts 2016
Ingunda Šperberga, Māris Rundāns, Valdis Segliņš

Alkaline activation is a chemical process in which a powder material of an alumosilicate nature is mixed with an alkaline activator to produce a paste that is able to set and harden in a short time. The reaction process of this system is characterized by dissolution of alumino-silicate oxides and followed by the polymerization reaction of those dissolved species, in the presence of alkali ions for charge balancing in framework cavities nearby AlO4 constituents. Alkali activated materials possess good mechanical properties, including fire and acid resistance. Mentioned properties make such materials as alternative construction ones. The most common reactants in the past decades have been kaolinite and metakaolinite. The search for alternative low cost and easily available materials have lead among another materials to illite clays. The aim of this work is the study of alkaline dissolution of natural illite clays of Latvia and obtaining of low temperature ceramic materials. The clay deposits traditional subdivision in Latvia is based on geological age with specific attention to beds with industrial importance – Devonian and Quaternary deposits. From geological point of view – Latvia is rich in clay resources to be used for material production currently and at least for centuries. Quaternary and Devonian illite clays of Latvia used for alkaline activation were characterized by means of chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction and differential thermal analysis. In order to investigate the effect of the activators (KOH and NaOH) on the properties of ceramic materials, two series (Q–clay and D-clay) were tested. It is important to note that compressive strength of materials obtained from clays via chemical activation process depends on many factors such as mineralogical and chemical composition as well as thermal treatment temperature, the type and concentration of the activator. FTIR spectra differences of the differently activated (with NaOH and KOH) clays were a good indication of the transformations taking place during synthesis. Factor that plays an important role during activation process is the calcium content in clays. Q clay (calcite containing) showed higher compressive strength than that of D clay (calcite content is very low).


Atslēgas vārdi
geopolymers, alkali activation, illite, clay

Šperberga, I., Rundāns, M., Segliņš, V. Low Temperature Ceramic Materials via Alkaline Activation of Illite Clays. No: 7th Baltic Conference on Silicate Materials BaltSilica 2016: Book of Abstracts, Lietuva, Kaunas, 26.-27. maijs, 2016. Kaunas: Kaunas University of Technology, 2016, 47.-47.lpp. ISSN 2243-6057.

Publikācijas valoda
English (en)
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