Development of ceramic with clays from Campos dos Goytacazes and Itaborai

The county of Campos dos Goytacazes, located in the north region of the State of Rio de Janeiro, currently is the leading red ceramic pole of the State. However, the clays are kaolinitic predominance with low amount of flux oxides as well as elevated loss on ignition. In this work compositions were investigated using of a clay from the county of Itaborai, that is approximately 200 km away from Campos, to correct the deficiencies of the clay from Campos and so to improve the the technological properties of the ceramic. Rectangular specimens were prepared by uniaxial mold-press at 18 MPa and then fired at 800 deg C. The evaluated physical and mechanical properties were: plasticity, linear shrinkage, water absorption and flexural rupture strength. The results indicated that the clay from Itaborai significantly improves the evaluated properties of the ceramic. (author)