The water treatment plants generate huge amounts of waste (water treatment sludge, WTS). This WTS as disposed in the hydric systems generates negative environmental impacts. In this work a study was done on the influence of a WTS in the properties and microstructure of red ceramic. A series of clay/waste mixtures were prepared with additions of up to 15 wt% of WTS. Ceramic pieces were prepared by uniaxial pressing and firing between 850 and 1050 ºC. The following physical-mechanical properties were determined: linear shrinkage, water absorption, apparent density, and flexural strength. The microstructure and phase analysis evolution were accompanied by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The experimental results showed that the addition of up 15 wt% of WTS did not cause significant variations in the technological properties of the pure clayey body used as reference. The microstructure of the red ceramic pieces also was not influenced by the WTS added.
WTS; red ceramic; microstructure
