Abstract Refractory ceramics were produced from clays and alumina waste. Specimens were shaped by uniaxial pressing, subjected to thermal analysis by dilatometry and heat-treated in a conventional furnace at 1300 and 1400ºC, applying a heating rate of 5ºC/min and a dwell time of 2 and 3 hours at the maximum temperature. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and physicomechanical properties. The dilatometric analysis before heat treatment indicated that the formulation containing the largest amount of fluxing oxides presented the highest linear shrinkage. The XRD analysis revealed that mullite was the major phase and needle shaped crystals typical of mullite obtained from clay minerals were observed by SEM. The increase in firing temperature and dwell time at the maximum temperature improved the physicomechanical properties of the specimens. The thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) in the range of 25 to 1000ºC varied from 6.2 to 6.9 x 10-6°C-1.

As indústrias da mineração e beneficiamento de calcário laminado representam um importante segmento econômico do Estado do Ceará, entretanto produzem uma grande quantidade de resíduos, que poluem e agridem o meio ambiente. Assim, esse trabalho tem por objetivo a caracterização do resíduo da serragem da Pedra Cariri e a avaliação de sua aplicabilidade como matéria-prima cerâmica alternativa para a produção de telhas e blocos cerâmicos. O resíduo foi caracterizado através da determinação de sua composição química e mineralógica, por difração de raios X, análise térmica diferencial, distribuição de tamanho de partículas e análise morfológica por microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Foram formuladas composições contendo o resíduo e confeccionados corpos-de-prova por prensagem. Os corpos-de-prova foram queimados e, em seguida, foram determinados a absorção de água e o módulo de ruptura à flexão. Pode-se concluir que o resíduo é constituído por calcita e dolomita, que apresenta elevada finura e que é possível a incorporação de até 10% de resíduo em formulações para a produção de telhas e blocos cerâmicos.

The mining and processing industries of laminated calcite tile are an important economic sector in the State of Ceará. However, they generate a large amount of wastes, which are a source of contamination and environmental pollution. This study aimed to characterize the laminated calcite tile sawing waste and evaluate its suitability as an alternative ceramic raw material for the production of bricks and roof tiles. The waste was characterized by chemical composition determination, X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analyses, particle size distribution determination, and morphological analysis by electronic scanning microscopy. Several formulations were prepared and sample bodies were prepared by uniaxial pressing. The sample bodies were fired at different temperatures. Sintered samples were characterized in terms of water absorption and mechanical strength. The results showed that the waste is composed of calcite and dolomite, that presents a high level of fines. As such, it is possible to incorporate up to 10% for the production of ceramic bricks and roof tiles.