INVESTIGATION OF THE REFRACTORY PROPERTIES OF KANKARA CLAY FOR ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS

Abstract

The refractory properties of Kankara clay have been investigated with a view to understanding its

suitability for various engineering and industrial applications. The experimental procedures

include thermal shock resistance, thermal conductivity, shrinkage, apparent porosity,

refractoriness under load with rising temperature mode, and refractoriness under load

maintained temperature mode. The results obtained from the research work showed the clay has

good refractory properties that can be used for both Engineering and industrial applications. The

value obtained through the thermal conductivity test 0.48W/m℃ , as compared with 0.35- 0.45

W/moC for insulating fire brick and 1.05- 1.45W/m℃ for dense fire brick. 2kg/cm2 of the sample

was further subjected to refractoriness test where the sample was heated to 1405oC as compared

to 1750oC for the production of fire bricks. Further investigation indicated that a glassy surface

structure was formed when the samples was heated above 1400℃ . The value obtained as regard

the porosity level was 25% which fell between 20-30% as the acceptable standard. The sample

was also subjected to apparent porosity and a value of 38% was obtained. Kankara clay formed a

glassy and surfaces when heated above 1400oC. In this research, these bricks porous with an

apparent porosity of 38.07%. Attempts to produce these bricks with acceptable porosity level of

20-30% were not successful. Kankara clay exhibits moderate thermal shock resistance, moderate

thermal conductivity, moderate shrinkage, high apparent porosity, and high refractoriness under

load in both rising temperature mode and maintained temperature mode. "Based on these results,

Kankara clay appears to be well-suited for use in applications where moderate levels of thermal

shock resistance, thermal conductivity, and shrinkage are acceptable, such as in the manufacture

of low-temperature bricks, but less suited for high-temperature applications, such as furnace

linings, due to its high apparent porosity and susceptibility to deformation under load. Further

research could be conducted to explore strategies for reducing the porosity and improving the

refractoriness of this clay for broader applications.