Improving mechanical and electrical properties of Ca bentonite for energy storage applications

Abstract EN

In the present study the effect of silica and alumina addition on the electrical and mechanical properties of Iraqi calcium bentonite clay have been investigated.

The prepared specimens were compacted at 100 MPa as a disc shape and then treated with firing temperatures of about (1000 ºC, 1100ºC, 1200 ºC, 1300 ºC).

The samples were examined with XRD to identify the structural phases, also we have examined the physical properties (apparent porosity and apparent density) and the electrical behavior as a function to applied frequency range from 50Hz to 1MHz.

While the mechanical tests include Brinell hardness test (BHN) and diametrical strength.

The best electrical parameters at 1MHz have been showed for the sample fired at 1200 ºC while the best mechanical tests have been showed for the sample fired at 1100 ºC which has the mullite phase content as the dominant phase (57.5 %).