Applications of sewage sludge ash and nano-SiO2 to manufacture tile as construction material

In this study, various portions of potter’s clay and porcelain clay were replaced with incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA) to manufacture sludge ash tile specimens. We used these tiles to investigate the effect of introducing nano-SiO₂ particles as strengthening additives in the clay–ISSA materials. Percentages of ISSA in the porcelain or potter’s clay-based materials ranged from 0% to 50%, and fractions of nano-SiO₂ additives range from 0% to 3%. Tile specimens were manufactured from the different clay–ISSA–additive mixtures and sintered at kiln temperatures of 1000 °C and 1100 °C. Mechanical tests were performed to measure shrinkage, water absorption, abrasion, and bending strength. The sample microstructure was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Chemical compositions of the tile specimens were characterized with X-ray diffraction. Results indicate that water absorption of porcelain and potter’s clay-based tiles was reduced when samples were fired at the higher kiln temperature, dropping to less than 12% in porcelain tiles at a kiln temperature of 1100 °C. Kiln temperature appeared to have less influence on the tiles made from potter’s clay. With the addition of nano-SiO₂ additive, the bending strengths of both types of tiles were increased, with the strengthening effect more pronounced in potter’s clay tiles when compared to porcelain clay tiles.