Effect of chemical composition of kaolin of djebel debbagh on mechanical properties

Abstract EN

Due to its common occurrence and good availability, Kaolinite (2SiO2.Al2O3.2ihO) is one of the most popular starting materials for aluminosilicate - based ceramics.

Naturally, it contains many impurities such as XfnO, MgO, CaO, Fe20j, Na20 and K^O.

Thus, understanding the effect of these foreign oxides on certain properties of kaolin such as mechanical properties is well recommended.

Consequently, four series of samples prepared from different local kaolinites (DD2, DD3(A), DD3(B) and DD4) derived from Djebel Debbagh (Guelma region), have been studied.

The strength testing of sintered samples at room temperature was carried out using the diametral compressibn test, at a constant displacement rate of 0.2 mm minusing hard metal platens.

It has been found that samples prepared from DD2 kaolinite have the highest tensile strength (^ 127 MPa), using the diametral compression test.

Moreover, the highest microhardness ( 1472 kg mm- ) was also measured for this kind of kaolinite (DD2).