Effect of substitution of quartz by silica residue in the fabrication of porcelain balls

Abstract

A ceramic waste material residual silica, obtained during the extraction of alumina from kaolinite is used here to prepare porcelain balls. Quartz plays a vital role in porcelain preparation. Here, quartz is substituted by a ceramic waste; for recycling the waste material and at the same time to study the effect of this substitution on the fired properties of the porcelain balls. The comparison of quartz-based porcelain balls and silica residue-based porcelain balls was made concerning various properties like apparent porosity, bulk density, point load strength, phase formation microstructure study. The silica residue-based porcelain balls have better mullitization, lower porosity and higher point load strength at the optimum temperature of 1250°C. Needle shaped mullite grains wrapped in glass observed in 1250°C sintered sample.