Kaolin Raw Material Briquetting for Lump Chamotte Production

Abstract

The efficiency of briquetting kaolin raw material in a roller press is investigated as a measure for combatting dust formation during clay firing. It is established that use of a roller press for briquetting with a claw-grooved configuration of molding elements compared with extrusion by a vacuum press makes it possible to prepare briquettes of better quality, distinguished by improved breakage resistance during heat treatment. A rational clay moisture content is determined for briquetting in a roller press (21%). It is established that briquette preparation with this moisture content makes it possible to minimize briquette breakage during heat treatment and energy expended in material drying before compaction, and also to increase the yield of finished briquettes from a press with provision of good crude briquette strength.