Use of Steel Slag into Clayey Ceramics
This work has for objective to evaluate the microstructural aspects and technological properties of a clayey ceramic incorporated with up to 30 wt.% of a waste generate during the steel-making process, denoted as steel slag. To determine the physical and mechanical properties such as linear shrinkage, water absorption and flexural strength, specimens were prepared by 18 MPa uniaxial pressure-molding and then fired in a laboratory furnace at 700, 900 and 1100oC. The microstructure of the compositions was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results showed that it is possible to recycle the finer particles of steel slag by incorporating into red ceramic as long as they are used in amounts not higher than 10 wt.% to avoid the increase in porosity and decrease of the mechanical strength.