Thermal activation of natural clays containing kaolinite

ALEJANDRA TIRONI; MÓNICA ADRIANA TREZZA; ALBERTO NESTOR SCIAN; EDGARDO FABIÁN IRASSAR

Cement and its Applications (en ruso)

FLSmidth

Año: 2012 vol. 6 p. 145 - 148

1607-8837

The sustainable development is described as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The manufacturing processes of building materials contribute greenhouse gases like CO2 to the atmosphere. There is a great concern and emphasis on reducing greenhouse gases emission in order to control adverse environmental impacts. Fired clays are still an alternative of pozzolanic material for cement and concrete, especially in developing countries. The temperature range for clay´s activation is lower than clinkering temperature implying less energy consumption and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, clays activation only produces water vapour emissions to the atmosphere. The purpose of this investigation is to study the thermal activation of natural kaolinitic clays from different regions of Argentine. Five clays with different kaolinite content, different impurities and different degree of crystallinity were analyzed. The samples were tested by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transformed infra-red spectrometry (FTIR). This study confirms that common clays from different regions of Argentina other than pure kaolinite can be interesting as pozzolanic materials when they are thermally activated.