Performance Evaluation of Irefin (Isan Ekiti) Clay in the Production of Refractory Bricks

Abstract

The performance evaluation of refractory brick produced using Isan Ekiti clay (Ball clay and Kaolin) with saw dust as the combustible materials was investigated with a view of determining the most suitable percentage compositions. The clay samples were sourced from Isan Ekiti was crushed, pulverized, and sieved to produce very fine grains of less than 120 μm particle size distribution for all samples. Four compositions were developed from admixture of the clay and combustible materials. Samples produced from the compositions were then tested for shrinkage, porosity, bulk density, average crushing strength, and water absorption after firing to 1000 ^oc. Samples A-D  had percentage total shrinkage ranging from 8% - 20%  with corresponding bulk density ranging from  0.66g/cm³ – 1.07g/cm³. All the samples had crushing strength ranging from 1.1- 4.2 N/mm² with corresponding percentage porosity ranging from 47.7% - 65.2%, while the percentage water absorption range from 41.3% - 98.4%. It was discovered that the higher the combustible materials the higher the shrinkage, porosity and water absorption, while the lower the bulk density and crushing strength of the bricks. However, sample D of the bricks produced with the lowest percentage combustible gave the average result when considering the percentage shrinkage, porosity, bulk density, crushing strength, and water absorption. Therefore, sample D with (70% of kaolin, 15% of ball clay, and 15% of saw dust) was used in the production of refractory bricks, and thereafter used to build a testing kiln.