Utilization of gold tailings for the construction of foamed ceramics used in external insulation buildings

The utilization of gold tailings and bentonite as raw materials for prepared foamed ceramic was studied. The effects of boric acid and titanium dioxide content on the properties and microstructures of foamed ceramic were studied from the aspects of bulk density, compressive strength, bending strength, phase composition, and micromorphology. These results show that the synergistic effect of boric acid and titanium dioxide leads to the crystallization of quartz, which enhanced the compressive strength and bending strength and decreased the thermal conductivity of foamed ceramics, while the bulk density increases gradually with the addition of titanium dioxide. Taking into account all of these properties, the optimal results are as follows: bending strength of 1.111 MPa, compressive strength of 1.165 MPa, bulk density of 0.258 g/cm³, the porosity of 81.89%, the thermal conductivity of 0.088 (W/(m⋅K)). This study indicated that gold tailings are a promising candidate for the preparation of foamed ceramics used as external insulation building materials.     

Preparation of foamed ceramics from steel slag with high calcium and iron content

In this paper, steel slag foamed ceramics were fabricated by using steel slag, kaolin, feldspar, and quartz as main raw materials, and adding SiC as high-temperature foaming agent. The effects of steel slag content and SiC particle size on porosity and mechanical properties of foamed ceramics were researched. Results indicate that when content of steel slag is 40 wt%, and particle size of SiC is 20 µm, foamed ceramics exhibited optimized properties: water absorption rate of 2.59%, total porosity of 55.91%, bulk density of 1.33 g·cm⁻³, and compressive strength of 1.21 MPa. The results show that with the increase of steel slag content, the phase composition of foamed ceramics changes, and foam process is hindered. The increase of steel slag content contributes to the formation of diopside. Fe³⁺, Fe²⁺ in liquid phase enter into diopside by solid solution, the amount of liquid phase decreases. Liquid phase mass transfer slows down, and content of SiC in liquid phase decreases, so that the porosity decreases. At the same steel slag content, different SiC particle size affects the difference between pressure inside the closed pore and surface pressure, thereby the porosity changes.     

利用黄金尾矿制备发泡陶瓷的研究

中国黄金尾矿资源量大,作为二次资源在建筑材料领域的综合利用有着重要的经济价值和环境意义。以黄金尾矿为主要原料,SiC为发泡剂,通过高温制备发泡陶瓷,用激光共聚焦显微镜、XRD等手段,研究了烧结温度、黄金尾矿掺入量、原料粒度对材料的容重、真气孔率和孔径等性能的影响。研究表明:随着烧结温度的升高,发泡陶瓷材料的真气孔率和孔径增大,容重减小;材料的真气孔率和容重随着黄金尾矿掺入量的增大分别降低和提高,随着原料粒度的减小分别提高和降低,气孔孔径随着黄金尾矿掺量的增大和原料粒度的减小均呈下降趋势。优化后,在烧成温度1 050 ℃,黄金尾矿掺入量50%(质量分数),黄金尾矿平均粒度D(50)=5.6 μm,SiC平均粒度D(50)=3.0 μm的条件下可制备出性能良好的发泡陶瓷。     

以铜尾矿制备发泡陶瓷墙板的研究

以山西某地铜尾矿作为主要原料制备轻质、高强度发泡陶瓷墙板,并采用抗压强度测试仪、XRD测试仪作为主要检测手段,研究铜尾矿加入量、烧成制度以及发泡剂对发泡陶瓷墙板物理性能的影响。研究结果表明:铜尾矿加入量控制在85%左右,SiC微粉0.25%,烧成温度1170℃保温40min,可以试制出适合发泡陶瓷隔墙板性能的产品。通过规模化生产中试,产品密度437.52kg/m^3,抗压强度9.77MPa,产品外观孔径0.5-1.5mm,满足实际应用要求。     

Recycling of harmful waste lead-zinc mine tailings and fly ash for preparation of inorganic porous ceramics

The porous ceramics were prepared by directly sintering of lead-zinc mine tailings and fly ash as the raw materials without any additional sintering and foaming agent. The effects of fly ash addition on the crystalline phases, pore structure, physical–chemical porosities and mechanical strength were investigated. The results showed that the bulk density decreased firstly and then increased while the porosity and water absorption presented the opposite tendency with the increase of fly ash content. Meanwhile, the chemical stability improved and the flexural strength had the same variation tendency of the bulk density. The phase evolution of sample with 60 wt% fly ash addition indicated that anorthite phase was formed at low temperature (1000 °C). The thermal behavior illustrated that the foaming process was initiated by the reaction of internal constituents in the lead-zinc mine tailings. Different pore structures indicated different foaming mechanisms that probably occurred at different temperatures. The porous ceramics with 60 wt% fly ash addition exhibited excellent properties, including bulk density of 0.93 g/cm³, porosity of 65.6%, and flexural strength of 11.9 MPa.     

Preparation and properties of ferrimagnetic glass–ceramic foams based on pyrite slag

By employing a melt-sintering method, we prepared a new type of ferrimagnetic glass–ceramic foam (FGCF) using ferrimagnetic glass–ceramic and foaming agent SrCO₃. The ferrimagnetic glass–ceramics were fabricated based on pyrite slag by a melt-quenching method. The effects of foaming agent content, sintering temperature and time on microstructure, magnetic properties, microwave absorption performance, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity of the as-obtained FGCF were analyzed. This foaming process at 1100°C for 40 min with 3-wt% SrCO₃ provided an FGCF with a bulk density of .693 g/cm³, a porosity of 63.60%, a specific saturation magnetic moment of 5.2 A m²/kg, a compressive strength of 2.61 MPa, a thermal conductivity of .241 W/(m K), and the calculated reflection loss of −12.1 dB for a layer thickness of 9 mm.     

Highly porous silica foams prepared via direct foaming with mixed surfactants and their sound absorption characteristics

The highly porous silica ceramics were fabricated by direct foaming with mixed surfactants and the influence of silicon nitride addition and solid content on the microstructures and properties were investigated. The results showed that silicon nitride can impede the formation of cristobalite and facilitates the sintering of silica ceramics. When the addition of silicon nitride powders reached 15 wt%, the highest compressive strength of silica ceramic foams could be obtained. The porosity of silica ceramic foams was tailored in the range of 84.61%–91.35% by adjusting the solid content, and the compressive strength of the obtained ceramic foams ranged from 5.89 MPa to 0.94 MPa. Sound absorption characteristics of silica ceramics foams were investigated. With the porosity of ceramic foams increased from 84.61% to 91.35%, the sound absorption coefficients in the entire sound wave frequency were enhanced due to the reduction of flow resistances, besides, the sound absorption peak varied from 4200 Hz to 2300 Hz, and became more intense and sharper.     

Amorphous silica wastes for reusing in highly porous ceramics

The paper analyzes a solution in green manufacturing of foamed or cellular ceramics. The objective of this study was to determine the technical solution for rice husk ash and “tales” of mixed glass cullet reusing based on the specific properties of these materials for creation of spherical holes inside ceramic using the process of coalescence of cellular glass. The paper reports on experimental results obtained from the production of lightweight cellular glass granules produced using glass cullet and rice husk ash. Lightweight cellular glass granules were mixed with clay, pressed and fired in air at 920°C. Clay sintering and the formation of ceramic were followed with the coalescence of cellular structure of glass granules and with the formation of spherical hollows inside the matrix. Density and strength of the fired ceramic bodies were determined. It is observed that the lightweight ceramics with density 900 ÷ 920 kg/m³ possess a compressive strength of about 5 MPa that is acceptable for bricks or tiles manufacture. The utilization of amorphous silica waste for lightweight ceramics manufacture helps in reducing waste disposal concerns and costs associated, and also transforms the waste into an alternative raw material with added value, moreover making the final product cheap.     

以硼砂为助熔剂使用含钛高炉渣制备发泡陶瓷

以紫色页岩、含钛高炉渣为原料,硼砂为助熔剂,碳化硅为发泡剂制备发泡陶瓷,通过对气孔率、闭孔率、孔径分布、表观密度、抗压强度、导热系数进行测量,研究了原料配比和硼砂添加量对发泡陶瓷气孔结构和物理性能的影响。结果显示:当原料中含钛高炉渣比例增加时,试样的平均孔径增加,气孔均匀性下降;硼砂的加入会使试样抗压强度降低,孔隙率增大,导热系数变小。当发泡陶瓷原料配比(质量分数)为高炉渣30%,页岩70%,添加4%的硼砂和0.2%的碳化硅时,制备出的发泡陶瓷的表观密度为0.374 g·cm^-3,导热系数为0.121 W·m^-1·K^-1,抗压强度为2.59 MPa,满足建筑外墙保温发泡陶瓷的要求。发泡陶瓷主要晶相为斜长石,同时伴有部分透辉石、石英和少量的铁板钛矿。     

Waste-bearing foamed ceramic from granite scrap and red mud

Using granite scrap and red mud as raw materials, SiC as foaming agent, powder sintering method was used to prepare closed-pore foamed ceramic. The effects of the ratio of red mud and granite scrap, foaming agent content, sintering temperature and holding time on the crystalline phase, pore structure, and performance of foamed ceramic were systematically studied. The results showed that, when the content of red mud was 10 wt%, together with 1.0 wt% SiC addition, the heating rate was 5°C/min, the foamed ceramic sintered at 1130°C for 30 min exhibited optimal properties, including bulk density of 483.11 kg/m³, porosity of 77.27%, compressive strength of 1.62 MPa and water absorption of .49%. Based on these properties, it possessed broad potential application prospects in the fields of sound and thermal insulation, lightweight construction materials. In this study, the utilization ratio of industrial solid waste was 100%, realized the comprehensive utilization of granite scrap and red mud, and provided a new idea to realize their low-cost utilization by preparing foamed ceramic with associated economic and environmental benefits.     

Hierarchically porous lanthanum zirconate foams with low thermal conductivity from particle-stabilized foams

Lanthanum zirconate (LZO) ceramic foams with hierarchical pore structure were fabricated by particle-stabilized foaming method for the first time, and the as-prepared ceramics have high porosity of 90.7%-94.9%, low thermal conductivity, and relatively high compressive strength. The LZO powder was synthesized by solid-state method. The porosity of the ceramic foams was tailored by suspensions with different solid loadings (20-40 wt%). The sample with porosity of 94.9% has thermal conductivity of 0.073 W/(m·K) and compressive strength of 1.19 MPa, which exhibits outstanding property of thermal insulation and mechanical performance, indicating that LZO ceramic foam is a promising thermal insulation material in high temperature applications.     

实验参数对固废基发泡混凝土试块性能的影响研究

以超细粉煤灰和钢渣超微粉为主要原料,配加少量水泥和铝粉发泡剂制备发泡混凝土试块.实验系统考察了不同水灰比、发泡剂掺量、发泡温度对发泡混凝土试块的绝干密度、抗压强度、吸水率和孔隙率的影响.结果表明,铝粉发泡剂掺量从1‰增加到7‰,所得试块的绝干密度和抗压强度分别降低36％和84％;而对应的吸水率和孔隙率增加幅度分别高达79％和30％.水灰比从0.65增加到0.95,所得试块的绝干密度和抗压强度分别降低26％和82％;而对应的吸水率和孔隙率均出现"先增后减"趋势,其中吸水率增加幅度为34％,降低幅度为24％;孔隙率增加幅度为18％,降低幅度为9％.发泡温度从25 ℃增加到90 ℃时,试块的绝干密度和抗压强度整体上呈"先降后升"趋势,绝干密度降幅约为30％,升幅约为60％;抗压强度降幅为50％,升幅高达140％.优化后的实验条件为:铝粉掺量1‰～3‰、水灰比65％～75％、发泡温度40 ℃左右.试块抗压强度与绝干密度随制备条件变化幅度不一致,这说明有可能通过制备工艺优化获得"高强度、低密度"的发泡混凝土产品.     

Preparation and characterization of porous ceramics from nickel smelting slag and metakaolin

Porous ceramics with high porosity and low bulk density were prepared by using nickel slag and metakaolin as the primary raw materials, glass powder as flux, and SiC as the foaming agent. The content of nickel slag and foaming agent had a significant effect on the bulk density, porosity, and flexural strength of the porous ceramics. The porous ceramics with the best properties were obtained at 1100 °C for 30 min with 50 wt% nickel slag, 40 wt% metakaolin, 10 wt% waste glass, and 0.8 wt% SiC. It had a low bulk density (as low as 245 kg/m³), high flexural strength and compressive strength (0.6 MPa and 1.17 MPa, respectively), and high porosity (about 89.8%). The nickel slag was magnetically separated as well. The density of nickel slag powder could be reduced via magnetic separation, and there was no significant change in the crystal structure of the raw material. Compared with porous ceramics prepared using nickel slag without magnetic separation, ceramics subjected to magnetic separation had lower bulk density, higher porosity, and the same phase composition. This study can be used as an indicator for the application of nickel slag in porous ceramics, which is of great significance in providing a great substitute nickel slag towards recovery and utilization.     

Foaming performance of the closed–pore foamed ceramics using silicon nitride as a foaming agent and sodium tetraborate as a modifier of foaming

Using silicon nitride as a foaming agent and sodium tetraborate as a modifier of foaming, foamed ceramics (FCs) with porous internal structure and dense surface were prepared by a high temperature foaming method based on the foaming mechanism which is simultaneous occurrence of oxygen diffusion from the air into the molten matrix balanced with the generation of the oxidation–derived nitrogen from silicon nitride at a specific molten matrix viscosity. The foaming performance of the FCs was improved significantly by establishing the conditions for the best synergy between the generation rate of the oxidation–derived nitrogen and the viscosity of the molten matrix during sintering. By synergistically changing the proportion of raw materials and the sintering time at 1150–1250 °C, the FCs demonstrated excellent overall properties with a high closed porosity of 89 %, a low bulk density of 0.32 g/cm³ and a relatively high compressive strength of 6.2 MPa.     

Fabrication of in-situ self-reinforced Si3N4 ceramic foams for high-temperature thermal insulation by protein foaming method

To meet demand for lightweight and high-strength ceramic foams, in-situ self-reinforced Si₃N₄ ceramic foams, with compressive strength of 13.2–45.9 MPa, were fabricated by protein foaming method combined with sintered reaction-bonded method. For comparison, ordinary protein foamed ceramics with irregular block microstructure were fabricated via reaction-bonded method, which had compressive strength of 3.6–20.5 MPa. Physical properties of these two types of samples were systematically compared. When open porosity was about 80%, both types of Si₃N₄ ceramic foams had excellent thermal insulation properties (<0.15 W m^?1 K^?1), while compressive strength of in-situ self-reinforced samples increased by more than 158% compared with ordinary samples. Under high-temperature oxidation conditions, microstructures of both types of samples were deformed with increase in oxidation temperature. Moreover, after oxidation temperature was increased to 1400 °C, oxidation weight gain decreased from 18.07% for ordinary samples to only 2.18% for self-reinforced samples. Thus, high-temperature oxidation resistance of Si₃N₄ ceramic foams was greatly improved.     

Preparation and properties of porous ceramics from nickel slag by aerogel gelcasting

To further resource industrial solid waste, porous ceramics with high porosity were prepared by a gelcasting method using nickel slag and kaolin as raw materials and hydrophilic nontoxic SiO₂ aerogel as a gelling agent. The effects of nickel slag content, dispersant and solid content on the properties and microstructure of porous ceramics were investigated in detail in terms of density, compressive strength, porosity, phase composition and micromorphology. The results confirmed that a certain amount of nickel slag can effectively improve the porosity of porous ceramics, while the addition of dispersant can promote the flow of the slurry, enhanced the denseness of the raw billet and significantly improved the compressive strength. However, its excessive use had a negative effect on the ceramic density and porosity. At the same time, the solid content played a key role in the performance of porous ceramics prepared by gelcasting, and too much solid content was also not conducive to the generation of pores. When the nickel slag content was 55%, the amount of dispersant was 2%, and the solid content was 60 vol%, the porous ceramic had a better overall performance, the density of the porous ceramic was 510 kg/m³, the compressive strength was 1.3 MPa, and the porosity reached 80.1%. The major crystalline phases of porous ceramics prepared by nickel slag were cordierite and anorthite.     

Performance study of foam ceramics prepared by direct foaming method using red mud and K-feldspar washed waste

In this study, foam ceramics were prepared via a direct foaming method at high temperatures (1080–1120 °C), using red mud (RM) and K-feldspar washed waste (KFW) as the raw materials and SiC as the foaming agent, respectively. The chemical compositions and crystalline phases of the raw materials as well as the structural and mechanical properties of the foam ceramics were investigated. By adjusting the formulation and sintering process parameters, the porous structure of the foam ceramics could be effectively modulated. In addition to some residual crystalline phases in the raw materials, new phases, including rutile (TiO₂) and anorthite (CaAl₂Si₂O₈), were generated in foam ceramics. The compressive strength of the foam ceramics decreased with an increase in the KFW/RM ratio and sintering temperature, which was mainly related to the low density of the foam ceramics and the poor support of the pore walls to the structure. Among all the foam ceramics investigated, the foam ceramic with the KFW/RM ratio of 1:1, SiC content of 1 wt%, sintering temperature of 1100 °C and sintering time of 60 min showed the best overall performance with a bulk density, an apparent porosity, an average pore size and a compressive strength of 0.77 g/cm³, 61.89%, 0.52 mm, and 3.64 MPa, respectively. Its excellent porous structure and mechanical properties rendered it suitable for application as insulation materials or decorative materials for building partition walls.     

尾矿制备气泡混合轻质土的力学与抗冻性能研究

以尾矿制备气泡混合轻质土,研究了湿密度和尾矿质量掺量对轻质土力学和抗冻性能的影响,并研究了尾矿对轻质土气孔结构的影响。结果表明,气泡混合轻质土的抗压强度与湿密度成正相关,与尾矿掺量成负相关。当尾矿掺量达到45%(质量分数,下同)时,湿密度为700 kg/m³和800 kg/m³的轻质土抗压强度分别为0.97 MPa和1.40 MPa,相比未掺尾矿的轻质土强度分别下降约69%和66%。尾矿制备气泡混合轻质土具有良好的抗冻性,30次冻融循环中,湿密度为700 kg/m³尾矿掺量为0%~45%的轻质土抗压强度损失率均在15%以内,且抗压强度均大于0.80 MPa,提高湿密度等级可以进一步改善轻质土的抗冻性。尾矿的掺入会导致轻质土孔隙率和平均孔径增大,孔圆度降低,相比于未掺尾矿的轻质土,当尾矿掺量达到30%时,孔隙率增大3.58%、平均孔径增大16.7%、圆度值增加7.4%。     

Recycling of extracted titanium slag and gold tailings for preparation of self-glazed ceramic foams

Self-glazed ceramic foams were successfully synthesized via powder sintering method, using extracted titanium slag (ETS) and gold tailings (GT) as raw materials without adding any sintering aids and foaming agents. Influence of ETS addition and sintering temperature on crystal phase evolution, physical–mechanical properties, and micro-morphology of ceramic foams was systematically studied. Results indicated that products sintered at 1180 °C with 30 wt% ETS and 70 wt% GT showed the best performance, i.e., bulk density of 1.66 g cm^?3, flexural strength of 20.4 MPa, water absorption of 0.14%, open porosity of 0.23%, and glaze Vickers hardness of 6.5 GPa. Moreover, it was observed that there existed strong correlation between bulk density and bending strength. Self-glazed ceramic foams developed in this study are expected to be used as building envelope materials and provide new ideas for effective reuse of other similar solid wastes.     

Preparation of high–strength closed–pore foamed ceramics from desalted sea sand at temperatures below 1000 °C

Based on high–temperature sintering with SiC as the foaming agent, the technical potential of preparing foamed ceramics (FCs) from desalted sea sand at temperatures below 1000 °C was studied. Rapid melting of the ceramic bodies at elevated temperatures helped to seal more foaming gas, resulting in a large foaming volume for the FCs. If the interior of the ceramic bodies melted quickly during sintering, the foaming gas was trapped in situ, resulting in a homogenous FC pore structure. By coordinating the borax content and sintering temperature of the green bodies, the melting characteristics of the ceramic bodies could be optimised during sintering, usually producing a large foaming volume and a homogeneous FC pore structure. The FCs sintered from the green bodies with 25–35 wt% of borax at 900–1000 °C obtained high total/closed porosities of (68–75)%/(65–72)%, a relatively dense surface, a homogenous pore structure, and a relatively high compressive strength of 8.1–11.2 MPa.