Study of Structural Changes During Firing of Clays with Flux Additives
摘要
The final composition, structure, and properties of ceramics are acquired during the firing stage at high temperatures (900–1300 ℃ or higher). To reduce energy consumption, fluxes are added to the ceramic mass to lower the sintering temperature. Widely used fluxes such as limestone and feldspars must be added in large quantities, up to 30%, to be effective. This study investigates the use of sodium fluoride (NaF) and sodium tetraborate (Na2B4O7) as fluxes, where all components exert a fluxing effect on aluminosilicate structures. Clay from the Vladimirskoe deposit (VKS-1) was mixed with NaF or Na2B4O7 and fired at temperatures up to 1100 ℃. NaF significantly influenced the clay, leading to high-density materials (up to 1759 kg/m3) but also causing deformation at high temperatures. Na2B4O7 resulted in more moderate densification. NaF increases the glass phase content to 94.6% and reduces the amount of quartz and mullite, while Na2B4O7 reduces the glass phase to 67.5% and increases the mullite content to 22.1%. The findings indicate that these fluxes can enhance sintering processes, potentially improving the energy efficiency of ceramic production.