Sugarcane Bagasse Ash as a Potential Quartz Replacement in Red Ceramic

TLDR

Sugarcane bagasse ash, an industrial waste rich in silicon and aluminum oxides with minor iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium oxides, is investigated as a potential quartz substitute. The study aims to characterize SCBA from a Brazilian factory and evaluate its effect on the properties of clay/ash ceramic probes. Prismatic probes containing 0–10 wt % ash were pressed at 18 MPa, fired from 800 °C to 1200 °C, and analyzed by XRD, XRF, thermal analysis, particle‑size, flexural strength, and linear shrinkage. Results indicate that up to 10 wt % ash can be incorporated depending on clay composition, and that ceramic/ash properties improve at sintering temperatures above 1000 °C.

Abstract

Sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) is an industrial waste that contains silicon and aluminum oxides as the major components and iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium oxides as the main minor components. In this paper, SCBA from one Brazilian factory was characterized and tested for its influence on the ceramic properties of clay/ash ceramic probes. Prismatic probes were pressed (18 MPa) using a ceramic mass mixed with 0%, 5%, 8%, and 10% ash. The probes were fired at temperatures between 800° and 1200°C. X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray fluorescence, thermal analysis (differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermogravimetric analysis), and tests for texture (particle‐size analysis), flexural strength, and linear shrinkage were carried out to characterize the samples. The results showed that the amount of ash to be incorporated will depend on mainly the composition of clay but also ash, and indicated that the clay used in this work can incorporate up to 10% weight of ash to produce solid bricks. The results also showed an improvement in ceramic/ash properties up to sintering temperatures higher than 1000°C.