Properties of Unglazed Ceramics Containing Aluminum Dross as a Major Component

摘要

Aluminum dross residue is a by-product produced at secondary re-melt plants where aluminum scraps are recycled. In this study, aluminum dross residue was utilized as a major component in the fabrication of unglazed ceramics for wall tile applications. The use of this by-product can reduce the landfill and environmental problems. The amount of aluminum dross residue used in the ceramic compositions varied in the range 50-90 wt.%. Other components utilized in the ceramic compositions included recycled glass alumino-silicate based clays. Firing was carried out between 1140 and 1200°C with 4h holding time which resulted in strong ceramic samples. Alpha-alumina, α-Al_2O_3 was the main crystalline phase found in all sintered ceramic samples. The appearance of mullite phase, Al_Si_O_13 was evident in all fired samples. Overall, the synthesized ceramics had excellent densification characteristics when the amount of aluminum dross residue was less than 70 wt% in the ceramic composition.