Abstract
The Aptian clays of Jebel Ressas (north-east of Tunisia) have been studied for their use in ceramic industry. At first, mineralogical, chemical, physical, and thermal analyses of these clays are given. Indeed, illite is the main mineral (60–65 wt%) but other minerals; quartz, kaolinite, interstratified illite/smectite, calcite and feldspar, are present in small quantities. Next, this study reveals that the average amounts of silica and potassium are 51.57 and 3.35 wt%, respectively. The percentage of potassium is also quite high, suggesting the presence of illite. The amount of alumina is in average of 19.01 wt%. The contents of lime and iron vary between 5 and 8 wt%. The grain size data indicate a silt-dominated assemblage. The plasticity test shows a medium value (PI= 16–20 wt%). The firing shrinkage and the expansion are limited. The absence of expansible minerals in these clays explains why the plasticity and the linear shrinkage are limited. Finally, two mixtures M1 and M2 prepared from these clays show that ceramic properties respect the norm and the industrial tests confirm that these clays could be used in manufacturing of bricks and earthenware tiles.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Ben M’Barek, M.; Srasra, E.; Zargouni, F.: Characterization of Paleocene clays in the North West of Tunisia and their use in the field of ceramics. Afr. Geosci. Rev. 9, 107–117 (2002) (in French)
El Hechi, A.: Mineralogical and physico-chemical study of the Upper Cretaceous—Paleogene clays of Grombalia, Zaghouan, and Enfidha. Thesis, Faculty of Sciences of Tunisia, pp. 205 (2004) (in French)
Mahmoudi, S.; Srasra, E.; Zargouni, F.: The use of Tunisian Barremian clay in the traditional ceramic industry: optimization of ceramic properties. Appl. Clay Sci. 42, 125–129 (2008)
Mahmoudi, S.; Srasra, E.; Zargouni, F.: Firing behaviour of the lower cretaceous clays of Tunisia. J. Afr. Earth Sci. 58, 235–241 (2010)
Elkhazri, A.; Razgah, S.; Abdallah, H.; Ben Haj Ali, N.: The Barremo-Aptian anoxic event “OAE 1a” in north eastern Tunisia: interest foraminifera. Rev. Paleobiol. 28, 93–130 (2009) (in French)
Turki, M.M.: Polykinematic and sediment control associated with the Zaghouan-Nabhana fautl. In: Review of Earth Sciences. Edition of the National Institute of Scientific and Technical Research of Tunis, Tunisia, p. 252 (in French) (1988)
Grim, R.E.: Applied Clay Mineralogy, McGraw-Hill, New York, p. 422 (1962)
Srodon, J.: X-ray diffraction of randomly interstratified illite smectite in mixtures with discrete. Clay Miner. 16, 297–304 (1981)
Proust, C.; Jullien, A.; Forestier, L.: Determination of Atterberg limits by dynamic gravimetry. Comptes Rendus Geosci. 336, 1233–1238 (2004) (in French)
Modesto, C.; Bernardin, A.M.: Determination of clay plasticity: indentation method versus Pfefferkorn method. Appl. Clay Sci. 40, 15–19 (2008)
Carretero, M.I.; Dondi, M.; Fabbri, B.; Raimondo, M.: The influence of shaping and firing technology on ceramic properties of calcareous and non-calcareous illitic–chloritic clays. Appl. Clay Sci. 20, 301–306 (2002)
Ferrari, S.; Gualteri, A.F.: The use of illitic the production stoneware tile ceramics. Appl. Clay Sci. 32, 73–81 (2006)
Sedmale, G.; Sperberga, I.; Sedmalis, U.; Valancius, Z.: Formation of high-temperature crystalline phases in ceramic from illite clay and dolomite. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 26, 3351–3355 (2006)
Wattanasiriwech, D.; Srijan, K.; Wattanasiriwech, S.: Vitrification of illitic clay from Malaysia. Appl. Clay Sci. 43, 57–62 (2009)
Fiori, C.; Fabbri, B.; Donati, F.; Venturi, I.: Mineralogical composition of the clay bodies used in the Italian tile industry. Appl. Clay Sci. 4, 461–473 (1989)
Bain, A.J.: Composition and properties of clay used in various fields of ceramics. Part II. Ceram. Forum Int. 63, 44–84 (1987)
Kreimeyer, R.: Some notes on the firing colour of clay bricks. Appl. Clay Sci. 2, 175–183 (1987)
Baccour, H.; Medhioub, M.; Jamoussi, F.; Mhiri, T.; Daoud, A.: Mineralogical evaluation and industrial applications of the Triassic clay deposits, Southern Tunisia. Mater. Charact. 59, 1613–1622 (2008)
Baccour, H.; Medhioub, M.; Jamoussi, F.; Mhiri, T.: Influence of firing temperature on the ceramic properties of Triassic clays from Tunisia. J. Mater.Process. Technol. 209, 2812–2817 (2009)
Hajjaji, W.; Moussi, B.; Hachani, M.; Medhioub, M.; Lopez-Galindo, A.; Rocha, F.; Labrincha, J.A.; Jamoussi, F.: The potential use of Tithonian–Barremian detrital deposits from central Tunisia as raw materials for ceramic tiles and pigments. Appl. Clay Sci. 48, 552–560 (2010)
Shepard, F.P.: Nomenclature based on sand–silt–clay ratios. J. Sediment. Petrol. 24, 151–158 (1954)
Mc Manus, J.: Grain size distribution and interpretation. In: Tucker, M.E. (ed.) Techniques in Sedimentology. Blackwell, Oxford, pp. 63–85 (1988)
Winkler, H.G.F.: Bedeutung der Korngrossenverteilungund des Mineral-bestandes von Tonen fiirdie Herstellung grobkerarnischer Erzeugnisse. Ber. DKG 31, 337–343 (1954)
Holtz, X.; Kovacs, X.: Kansas geotechnical survey. The relationship between geology and landslide hazards of Atchison. Kansas and Vicinity. Curr. Res. Earth Sci. 3, 244 (1981)
Van der Merwe, D.H.: Prediction of heave from the plasticity index and percentage of clay fraction of soils. Trans. S. Afr. Inst. Civil Eng. 6, 103–107 (1964)
Bain, J.A.; Highly, D.E.: Regional appraisal of clay resources: challenge to the clay mineralogist. In: Mortland, M.M.; Faxmer, V.C. (Eds.) Proceedings of the International Clay Conference, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 437–446 (1978)
Baran, B.; Erturk, T.; Sarikaya, Y.; Alembaroglu, T.: Workability test method for metals applied to examine a workability measure (plastic limit) for clays. Appl. Clay Sci. 20, 53–63 (2001)
Kara, A.; Stevens, R.:Characterization of biscuit fired bone China body microstructure. Part I: XRD and SEM of crystalline phases. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 22, 731–736 (2002)
Milheiro, F.A.C.; Freire, M.N.; Silva, A.G.P.; Holanda, J.N.F.: Densification behavior of a red firing Brazilian kaolinitic clay. Ceram. Int. 31, 757–763 (2005)
Martin-Marques, J.; Rincon, J.Ma.; Romero, M.: Effect of firig temperature on the sintering of porcelain stoneware tiles. Ceram. Int. 34, 1867–1873 (2008)
Alcântara, A.C.S.; Beltrão, M.S.S.; Oliveira, H.A.; Gimenez, I.F.; Barreto, L.S.: Characterization of ceramic tiles prepared from two clays from Sergipe—Brazil. Appl. Clay Sci. 39, 160–165 (2008)
Assal, H.H.; El-Didamony, H.; Ramez, M.; Mossalamy, F.H.: The role of lime inclusions on the properties of fired clay articles. Ind. Ceram. 19, 82–92 (1999)
Cizeron, G.: Dilatometric analysis. Ceram. Ind. 795, 405–408 (1985)
Fabri, B.; Fiori, C.: Clays and complementary raw materials for stoneware tiles. Miner. Petrogr. Acta 29, 535–545 (1985)
Hollerl, N.; Venturi, V.; Gatti, F.: Calcium carbonate in extruded products. Ceram. World 2, 34–39 (1996)
Parras, J.; Sanchez-Jimenez, C.; Rodas, M.; Luque, F.G.: Ceramic application of Middle Ordovician shales from central Spain. Appl. Clay Sci. 11, 25–41 (1996)
Gallala, W.; Gaied, M.E.M.: Montacer: detrital mode, mineralogy and geochemistry of the Sidi Aïch Formation (Early Cretaceous) in central and southwestern Tunisia: implications for provenance, tectonic setting and paleoenvironment. J. Afr. Earth Sci. 53, 159–170 (2009)
Darweesh, H.: Building materials from siliceous clay and low grade dolomite rocks. Ceram. Int. 27, 45–50 (2001)
Jordán, M.M.; Almendro, M.B.; Romero, M.; Rincón, J.M.: Application of sewage sludge in the manufacturing of ceramic tile bodies. Appl. Clay Sci. 30, 219–224 (2006)
Sanchez Soto, P.J.;Dıaz-Hernandez, J.L.; Raigon-Pichardo, M.; Ruız-Conde, A.; Garcıa-Ramos, G.: Ceramic properties of a Spanish clay containing illite, chlorite and quartz. Br. Ceram. Trans. 93, 196–201 (1994)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mahmoudi, S., Srasra, E. & Zargouni, F. Composition and Ceramic Properties of Carbonate-Bearing: Illitic Clays from North-Eastern Tunisia. Arab J Sci Eng 39, 5729–5737 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-014-1145-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-014-1145-0