Effect of calcination temperature on use of high-boron-content waste for low-temperature wall tile production

The effects of the calcination temperature on raw-colemanite-waste properties and calcined waste content on wall tile production were investigated. Waste containing 11.24% B₂O₃ calcined between 500 and 800°C was added to wall tile granules in various ratios (0–100 wt.%) to produce a low-temperature-sintered wall tile by adding the maximum content of boron waste, as determined through optimal calcination. The low-temperature (850–1000°C) sinterability of the samples and the effect of the calcined colemanite-waste content on the wall tile properties were investigated. The samples were characterised using X-ray fluorescence, X-ray powder diffraction, differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and colourimetry. The waste calcined at 800°C exhibited a substantially different phase distribution, bond structure, morphology, and colour. The wall tile produced using 40 wt.% colemanite waste calcined at 800°C and subsequently sintered at 950°C exhibited the optimal properties. The linear firing shrinkage, water absorption, and flexural strength of the optimised wall tile were 0.88%, 16.04%, and 36.07 MPa, respectively. The optimised wall tile exhibited major albite, quartz, and diopside phases and 64% higher strength. The sample calcined at 800°C showed that high colemanite-waste content could be incorporated into ceramic bodies.