Study and technological characterization of kaolinitic clays from the region of Parnaiba Basin

A major problem of the structural ceramics industry is that there is the practice of characterizing and controlling the raw materials, thus the materials used and products obtained are not known as to their physical-chemical and mechanical. Structural ceramic industries are still using 'home recipes' for mass preparation, since this activity is a cultural heritage. In this context, the main purpose of this study was to characterize four clays originating from Parnaiba Basin. In the evaluation tests were performed and used ceramic techniques of analysis by x-ray fluorescence (XRF), x-ray diffraction (XRD), dilatometric analysis (DA), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and its derivative (DTG) sieve analysis (FA) and rational analysis (RA). The results showed that the raw materials studied are technically feasible and have great potential to be used in the formulation of clear-burning ceramic components, improving their qualities and properties. (author)