Mössbauer and X-ray study of the firing process for production of improved roofing tiles

Abstract

The effects of firing atmosphere parameters on the microstructural characteristics and physical properties of clay roofing tiles were studied. For these investigations, 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry and dilatometry were used. XRD of the raw material exploited from the clay pit belonging to the roofing tile factory "Potisje-Kanjiza", revealed the presence of montmorillonite, kaolinite, illite and some chlorite clay minerals, as well as, quartz, albite, calcite and dolomite. Gradual changes were observed both in the 57Fe Mössbauer spectra and X-ray diffractograms with samples fired in reducing CO/N2 gas atmosphere at temperatures between 700 and 1060 °C. These changes reflect the dehydroxylation processes, oxide (Fe3O4) formation, carbonate decomposition, densification and new silicate (plagioclase) formation. The firing conditions in reducing atmosphere were determined to produce roofing tiles with improved properties. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.