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DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF COMPOSITE REFRACTORY BRICKS (A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED KENYAN CLAYS)

Refractory bricks (refractories) are used in the construction of furnaces and kiln internal linings that hold, melt and transfer raw materials being processed. Kenya imports refractories mainly for its cement, metal smelting and sugar processing industries. Kaolin, bauxite, salama, soapstone and ball clays exhibited Loss of Ignition of 7-15%, silica of 46-55% and alumina of 25-34%. Soapstone and salama clays exhibited high values of potassium (5.6%) and iron oxide (16%), while salama clay had low alumina of 20% disqualified as refractory clay material. Alumina, silica and iron oxides in kaolin, bauxite and ball clays made them suitable as composite refractory clays. The properties of the developed composite bricks were determined at different mix ratios and particle sizes and their results compared with American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) standards. Kaolin and bauxite clays were mixed at different ratios with 10% binder (ball clay).

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Author: keter, charles k.
Contributed by: henrykasozi
Institution: egerton university
Type: dissertations