Study of mechanical properties of building ceramics with the addition of non-traditional raw materials

The current economic situation and increased attention to environmental protection encourage manufacturers of building materials, in particular ceramic bricks, to look for alternative types of raw materials that make it possible to reduce its cost with good quality of finished products. Mining waste is especially promising, among which peridotites stand out, which have huge reserves and are practically not used. The purpose of the work is to obtain building ceramics with the addition of peridotite and study its mechanical properties.The chemical and mineralogical compositions of raw materials have been determined. Silicon and aluminum oxides account for 78.5% in clay and 61% in peridotites.The latter are characterized by a high content of calcium, magnesium and iron oxides (34.65%). Clay is composed of clay minerals, as well as quartz and feldspar. Tremolite, enstatite and olivine are present in peridotites. The dependence of the mechanical strength of ceramic samples on their firing temperature, the content of the additive and the degree of its grinding has been established. The optimal amount of peridotite is 10%, at which the compressive strength has the maximum value over the entire grinding range of the additive. With an increase in the firing temperature to 1050оC, a slow increase in the strength of the samples occurs. At 1100оC, there is a sharp jump in strength parameters, which increase by 3.6–4.7 times, depending on the granulometric composition of the additive.The main properties of the obtained ceramics were determined. It has been established that peridotites are a promising additive for the production of ordinary bricks with a compressive strength of up to 60 MPa and an average density of up to 2400 kg/m3.