Improving the bending strength of porcelain by replacement of quartz by Rice Husk Ash (RHA)

Abstract

This study develops the bending strength of porcelain ceramics by substitution of quartz by rice husk ash (RHA) at various temperatures. Rice husk ash was used as a substitute for quartz with different replacement levels (0 to 25 wt%) to produce porcelain at different temperatures; 1000℃, 1100℃, 1200℃,1300℃. The properties of the samples such as, bending strengthand XRD were analyzed. It was observed that progressive substitution of quartz by RHA in a porcelain composition and increase in temperature resulted in early vitrification of the mixture. The bending strength was the highest when the porosity was the least at a temperature of 1200℃ on 20 wt% substitution of RHA. Furthermore, microstructural observations show that the grain size depends on the temperature, the substitution and is directly related to its bending strength.