This work has for objective to evaluate the influence of the sintering temperature in the physical, mechanical and microstructural properties of incorporate red ceramic with sugar cane bagasse ash. As raw materials an industrial ceramic body for production of tiles and a sugar cane bagasse ash, generated during the burning of the bagasse in boilers of an alcohol industry were used. Both raw materials were obtained from the area of Campos dos Goytacazes, north of the State of Rio de Janeiro. Incorporations of 0, 10 and 20% of ash with inferior granulometry to 44 mm (325 mesh) were made in the industrial ceramic body. Specimens were prepared by uniaxial press-molding and sintered at 900, 1050 and 1200°C. The following properties were determined: diametrical shrinkage, water absorption and mechanical resistance for diametrical compression. Microstructural analysis of the ceramic incorporated with ash was accomplished, after sintering at 1050 e 1200°C, by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that there was no significant change in the physical and mechanical properties of the red ceramic incorporated with ash. The ceramic with incorporation of 20% of ash, sintered at 1200°C, presented great difference in the microstructure in relation to the other studied compositions, due to a significant formation of liquid phase.
cane bagasse ash; incorporation; red ceramic; sintering temperature; properties
