Comparison Between Red Ceramic Parts With and Without Ornamental Stone Waste Under Wetting and Drying Cycles

Various examples of scientific research are promoted in Brazil and in the world to evaluate alternative materials in the industrial process of red ceramics. Thus, the objective is to reduce the amount of clay by incorporating another material in the production line of the red ceramic parts and consequently to prolong the extraction time of the clay reserves. The ornamental stone industries generate a lot of waste when cutting blocks. The research analyzes the behavior of the flexural strength of red ceramic parts with the incorporation of these residues. The percentages of waste addition were 0% (0R) 5% (5R) and 10% (10R) by mass. Three firing temperatures were analyzed: 750, 850, and 950 °C. The main objective is, after 175 cycles of wetting and drying, to compare the flexural strength of ceramic parts with and without the addition of ornamental stone waste. Flexural strength was obtained using the 3-point method. According to the results, samples 0R and 10R at all firing temperatures showed lower flexural strength than samples 5R. The 5R samples sintered at 950 °C were the most resistant with a value of 3.5 MPa after 175 wetting and drying cycles.