Halloysite in Different Ceramic Products: A Review

The increased demands of our rapidly developing way of life lead to the broadening of the ceramic market among other effects. Due to the advanced ceramic properties of halloysite and its abundance, combined with its good synergistic effect with other materials, it has been investigated for multifarious possible applications to produce traditional and advanced ceramics as well as ceramic composites. In this review, a substantial number of studies by several investigators into halloysite-based ceramics were are summarized. The possibilities and limitations of different halloysite-based ceramic materials for future applications are also discussed in this manuscript and new fields of research are proposed. The summarization of published results indicates a constant scientific interest in halloysite-based traditional ceramics and new potential uses in the future. Additionally, investigations on different novel ceramic composites with low cost halloysite nanotubes (HNTS) have rapidly increased, covering different scientific and technological areas. On the other hand, research into advanced ceramics (SiAlONS) has been pursued due to its highly cost effective technology treatments on a large scale.

Mobile Information System of Ceramic Appreciation and Communication Management Based on Mobile Edge Computing

Mobile edge computing is a very popular technology now. It was proposed to eliminate the problem of lack of global computing resources. This article aims to study the use of the latest mobile edge computing technology to study the mobile information system for appreciation, exchange, and management of the traditional ceramic industry. The whole article uses mobile edge computing technology. It enters the network using wireless methods and provides recent users with the required services and cloud computing functions, allowing users to easily query the information and data they want, plus mobile. The information system enables people to use mobile phones, tablets, and other mobile terminals to query information in the ceramic industry and perform functions such as appreciation, communication, and management. From 2016 to 2020, our country’s ceramic industry exports have increased from US$3.067 billion to US$6.826 billion. Traditional ceramics in our country have been loved by various industries at home and abroad. The number of employees in the ceramic industry has also increased to 5 million, an increase of 30% year-on-year. The ceramic industry is also very promising in the long term.

Pathway towards a High Recycling Content in Traditional Ceramics

The present work shows the path towards the industrial production of ceramic tiles containing a high amount of recycling materials in the substitution of natural raw materials. Starting from the applied research at laboratory scale, which is able to demonstrate the work feasibility, other important milestones consist of pilot scale production until the proper industrial production. Finally, when all these steps are positively achieved, the practice is consolidated and it is possible to reach the concrete sustainability benefits (social, environmental and economic). The results of an industry driven project that aimed to produce porcelain stoneware tiles containing 85% of recycled materials were selected to show this path. This innovative ceramic product—containing soda-lime scrap glass from urban-separated collection (post-consumer waste) and unfired scrap tiles from industrial ceramic process (pre-consumer waste)—was sintered about 200 °C lower than a traditional porcelain stoneware tile. It maintains high technical performances belonging to class BIa of the International Standard of ceramic tile classification (EN ISO 14411). Moreover, this product fulfils the standard requirements for dry-pressed ceramic tiles with low water absorption (≤0.5%), and it obtained the certification UNI Keymark. The LCA study was also performed and the results showed a significantly lower environmental impact of this innovative product compared to a traditional porcelain stoneware tile.

Feasibility Study on the Potential Replacement of Primary Raw Materials in Traditional Ceramics by Clayey Overburden Sterile from the Prosilio Region (Western Macedonia, Greece)

The objective of this study was to investigate the valorization potential of clayey overburden sterile materials from lignite-mining activities in the manufacturing of traditional ceramics. This study aims to contribute toward the sustainable management and use of such waste materials in line with the environmental objectives of the 2030 agenda. To assess this issue, clayey steriles were incorporated in a white clay-body at 20, 50, and 80 wt%, whereas reference samples were also formed from the individual raw materials. Laboratory processing of the ceramics was performed by dry pressing loose powder into rectangular samples and firing at 1000 °C for 4 h. Characterization of the raw materials included chemical, mineralogical, and thermal analysis. The fired bodies were tested for their total linear shrinkage, apparent porosity, water absorption, bulk density, and bending strength according to the relevant standards. The microstructural evolution of the final bodies was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, which observed differences related to the addition of the steriles. The results showed that the tested clayey steriles can be utilized up to 50 wt% as a secondary raw material in the production of ceramic materials (e.g., bricks) with comparable properties to the reference clay-bodies. Furthermore, the color of the final samples changed from white-creamy to reddish as the content of clayey sterile materials increased in the raw mix.

Main parameters influencing the plastic behavior of clays used for traditional ceramics production

This paper investigates the main parameters influencing the plastic behavior of clays used for traditional ceramics production. For this, twenty-six clayey pastes were selected from twelve traditional ceramic plants around the city of Marrakech (Morocco). According to the lithology, six different types of materials are used as raw material in the ceramic industry of this region. Emphasis is placed on the impact of the characteristics of these clayey materials upon the plastic behavior of these clays. The pastes were characterized through their consistency using the Atterberg limits. It has been concluded that the gain size, the mineralogical and the clay mineral composition and content, the effect of diagenesis and the presence of talc-pyrophyllite association play the most important role in the control of the plasticity behavior.

Development of Geopolymers as Substitutes for Traditional Ceramics for Bricks with Chamotte and Biomass Bottom Ash

The greater environmental awareness, new environmental regulations and the optimization of resources make possible the development of sustainable materials as substitutes for the traditional materials used in construction. In this work, geopolymers were developed as substitutes to traditional ceramics for brick manufacture, using as raw materials: chamotte, as a source of aluminosilicate, and biomass bottom ashes from the combustion of almond shell and alpeorujo (by-product produced in the extraction of olive oil composed of solid parts of the olive and vegetable fats), as the alkaline activator. For the feasibility study, samples were made of all possible combinations of both residues from 100% chamotte to 100% biomass bottom ash. The tests carried out on these sample families were the usual physical tests for ceramic materials, notably the compression strength test, as well as colorimetric tests. The freezing test was also carried out to study the in-service behavior of the different sample groups. The families with acceptable results were subjected to Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. The results of the previous tests showed that the geopolymer was indeed created for the final families and that acceptable mechanical and aging properties were obtained according to European standards. Therefore, the possibility of creating geopolymers with chamotte and biomass bottom ashes as substitutes for conventional ceramics was confirmed, developing an economical, sustainable material, without major changes in equipment and of similar quality to those traditionally used for bricks.