Abstract
The ceramic industry is among the most important productive chains of the Amapá state, both in the capital and jobs generation. The objective of the present work was to characterize the new clay deposits from the south region of Amapá, aiming its application in the ceramic industry. Initially, the clays were submitted to physical, chemical, mineralogical and thermal characterizations. Afterwards, specimens were prepared by uniaxial pressing, applying two steps pressing of 13.4 and 20 MPa. The samples were dried in an oven at 110 ºC, and submitted to firing at 850, 1000 and 1200 ºC. The determined physico-mechanical properties were: linear firing shrinkage, water absorption, apparent porosity and flexural resistance, as well as post-firing mineralogical evolution. The results showed that the clays are composed by kaolinite, smectite, quartz and mica. In relation to the physico-mechanical properties, it was verified that five clays are suitable for use as dense refractories and one for red ceramics.
Keywords:
clays; new deposits; characterization; properties
