Investigation of structure and properties of expanded clay waste with the purpose of their use in the construction industry

This paper describes the structure and properties of large-tonnage expanded clay gravel waste, which is generated as dust from the cyclone, or clay dust (when drying granules), and expanded clay dust from filters (when leaving the kiln, from the cooler and screen). The mineralogical and phase composition of expanded clay dust and its hydraulic activity were determined. Clay dust from cyclones corresponds to the specific surface of 2500 cm2/g, and expanded clay dust from filters - 6800 cm2/g, which allows us to recommend it for use as a fine mineral additive to cement mortars and concretes. Due to the fact that the bulk density of clay dust is about 1000 kg/m3, and expanded clay dust - 6300 kg/m3, it allows to recommend it in the form of facilitating raw material additives in the production of wall and partition products. The results of X-ray phase analysis of clay dust from cyclones showed the presence of significant residues of unburnt clay (more than 80%), and the analysis of expanded clay dust from filters showed the presence of solid high-temperature phases consisting of: Quartz (SiO2) – 50.28%, Albite C-1 (NaAlSi3O8) – 14.82%, Microcline maximum (KAlSi3O8) – 15.73%, Lime (CaO) – 2.77%, Calcite (CaCO3) – 5.11%, Alunogen (Al2(SO4)2(H2O)22) – 11.29%. Hydraulic activity of clay and expanded clay dust according to the methods of GOST R 56593 and GOST 30744 showed that it is extremely low, especially for clay dust (0.3 MPa). On the contrary, the characteristics of samples of clay-alkali compositions showed sufficient strength (for clay dust up to 6.8 MPa, and expanded clay dust up to 3.6 MPa), which allows them to be recommended as a component of slag-alkali binder for cement-soil bases of highways.

expanded clay gravel, clay dust, expanded clay dust, specific surface area, X-ray phase analysis, thermal analysis, hydraulic activity