Utilization of Bigadiç Boron Works Waste Clay in Wall Tile Production

The investigations on the use of the alternative raw materials have been always popular in the ceramic tile production. Manufacturers have been interested in this subject for both increasing product quality and decreasing production costs. In this research the Bigadiç boron works waste clay was utilized as an alternative raw material. Boron works waste clay was characterized by chemical and X-ray diffraction analyses. Ceramic characteristics were determined from pressed bodies, using four elevated firing temperatures (1040, 1060, 1080, and 1100°C) for samples with 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt% boron works waste clay additions to a commercial wall-tile batch. The physical properties of the fired tiles were evaluated in terms of water absorption, linear shrinkage, and flexural strength. Microstructural observations were performed by scanning electron microscopy analyses. Based on the technological characteristics of the resulting ceramic material, the results were discussed.