Ceramic Tiles Obtained from Clay Mixtures with the Addition of Diverse Metallurgical Wastes

Abstract

The generation of industrial residues is unavoidable, but these materials may be recovered, redirecting them toward new production processes, rather than allocating them to the stream of discards. The aim of this paper is to study the feasibility of utilization of metallurgical wastes as raw material for tiles in the ceramic industry, using the residual materials as aggregates in clay based ceramics. The residues used are: sludge and slag from several metallurgical processes, Ruthner dust and foundry sand. Samples were obtained from mixtures of clay and each waste in various percentages, which were then heat treated. The pieces obtained were characterized using several techniques, with the aim of determining the properties of these materials in relation to the commercial requirements. A high feasibility of reuse of most of these wastes as raw material in the production of ceramic bodies has been established.