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Silicate bonded unsintered ceramics of Bayer process waste

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Arun S. Wagh  and
Victor E. Douse
Arun S. Wagh*
Affiliation:
Materials Laboratory, Physics Department, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica
Victor E. Douse
Affiliation:
Materials Laboratory, Physics Department, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica
*
a)Address correspondence to this author at Materials and Components Technology Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439.
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Abstract

Sodium silicates are investigated to enhance the strengths of Bayer process muds and develop structural ceramics without sintering. With an impregnation of sodium silicate from 2% to 10% concentration in red mud, the fracture toughness is enhanced from 0.2 to 0.9 MPa. Compression strengths of 25.1 MPa (3628 psi) have been attained with red mud at 10% silicate concentration. Similar enhancements by a factor of 4 to 5 have been obtained for modulus of rupture and Brinell hardness number. It is shown that these properties do not deteriorate in acidic and neutral environment in water, implying stability to weathering conditions. SEM investigations reveal elongated crystal formation, possibly of aluminum and iron silicates in the aggregate. These crystals act like whiskers enhancing the strength. The process is applicable for development of low-cost construction components.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 6 , Issue 5 , May 1991 , pp. 1094 - 1102
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1991

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