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The Suitable Industrial Application Of Kaolin
[KPANKOROGI AND IJERO EKITI]
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2.2 PROPERTIES OF KAOLIN
Kaolin is an important and widely used industrial material which is
made up of Kaolinite, a naturally occurring mineral of the clay family.
Kaolinite (also called China clay or porcelain clay) has an intrinsic
white colour, which is often stained brown or grey by impurities derived
from parent rock (Marshal, 1999; Idenyi and Nwajagu, 2003).
Kaolin
is triclinic in its crystal. Its physical properties include: a rarely
hexagonal scale; perfect basal cleavage; flexible but not elastic;
hardness 2 to 2.5; specific gravity in a range of 2.60 to 2.63; luster
in nature and transculent to opaque in transparency. The grain size of
kaolinite for example is said to range from below 1 micrometer to 50
micrometer (Heinskanen, 1996).
Kaolinite, the major constituent of
Kaolin has a low shrink-swell capacity and a low cation exchange
capacity (1 to 15 meq/100g). Fusion temperature 1850oC, P.H. of 5 to 7.5
an refractive index of 1.56 (Agi and Gbonhinbor, 2013).
Unlike
Smectites, Kaolinite is non-expanding and as a result of its high
molecular stability, isomorphous substitution is limited or
non-existence (Mitchell, 1993).
Kaolinite has a greater shear
strength than other clay minerals because of its compact structure, but
the shear strength and friction angle of kaolinite will be reduced if
intermolecular spaces are enlarged and swelling occur (Mitchell, 1993).
Kaolinite is the least reactive clay (Suraj et al, 1998).
2.3 USES OF KAOLIN
The uses of clay in general and kaolin in particular depend upon special properties of the clay particles.
Their
chemical properties (achieve internal and external surface) are used in
many ways as their physical properties (grain size and shape etc.
Velde, 1999.)
Kaolin can be used in clay- polymer organic
interactions as is applied in paints and inks (Velde, 1992), where
kaolin is employed as an inert colloid al pigment (Brady and Clauser,
1979).
Kaolin also finds application as crystal to promote organic
reactions, such as petroleum cracking or de-polymerization of large
organic molecules found in natural hydrocarbons as demonstrated by
(Iglewe and Nwokolo, 2005).
The grain size and shape of kaolin is
used to advantages in the paper industry, where it is used both as a
filling agent and as coating agent also printing inks tend to adhere
better to kaolin –treated paper surface (Velde, 1992, Aliyu, 1996).
Both grain and shape are useful properties in production of various
types of plastic and rubber products for instance automobile types
where kaolin is frequently employed as filler.
Kaolin is used in
ceramic white ware products insulators and refractory. In white wares,
kaolin aids accurate control of molding properties, and adds dry and
fired strength, dimensional stability, and a smooth surface finish to
the ware.
The excellent dielectric properties and chemical inertness
of kaolin make it well suited for porcelain electrical insulators. In
refractory applications the dimensional satiability high fusion points
and low water content, along with high green strength make kaolin an
important constituent. (Aref,2002).
Kaolin is also used as filler in
many rubber goods. It adds strength, abrasion resistance and rigidity to
both natural synthetic rubber products. In general most rubber products
extrude more easily after kaolin is used in rubber compounds. Although
kaolin cost less than most other rubber pigment, it has excellent
functional properties. (forbus et al 1993) and (Ryan,veglio et al,
1993).
Kaolin is also used in manufacturing of pencils. The
amounts of kaolin present ranges from 20% to 50%. Kaolin is usually
added to cement as a whitener during manufacturing process of cement.
Kaolin also finds application as a catalyst to promote organic
reactions, such as petroleum cracking or de-polymerization of large
organic molecules found in natural hydrocarbons, as demonstrated by
Igbokwe and Nwokolo (2005).
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]ABSTRACT COMING HERE SOON ... Continue reading---
CHAPTER ONE - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]CHAPTER ONE1.0 INTRODUCTION Kaolin is a clay rock and part of the group of industrial mineral with the chemical composition (Al2Si205 (OH)4.It is a layered silicate mineral with one tetrahedral sheet linked through oxygen atoms to one octahedral sheet alumina i.e. structurally composed of silicate sheet (Si2O¬5) bonded to aluminum oxide/hydroxide layer Al2 (OH)4 called gibbsite layers and repeating layer of the mineral are hydrogen bonded together. (Rost, 1992; Bish, 1993; Kle ... Continue reading---
CHAPTER THREE - [ Total Page(s): 5 ]MECHANICAL METHODS (SIEVE ANALYSES).This
method is used in the analysis of particles greater than 0.002mm in
diameter. The selection of sieve for this test depends on the soil to be
tested and the coarser the clay the larger the top of the sieve.A
known quantity of soil is sieved through a stack of sieves with
progressively smaller mesh openings, from top to bottom of the stack.This
grain size analysis cannot provide information on the shape of soil
grains, (weather angular, rounde ... Continue reading---
CHAPTER FOUR - [ Total Page(s): 4 ] ... Continue reading---
CHAPTER FIVE - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]CHAPTER FIVE5.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION5.1 CONCLUSIONCompositional features and industrial applications of Kpankorogi and ijero Ekiti kaolin clay were analysed based on mineralogy, Chemical composition and physical characteristics of the deposits. This is with the view to determining its suitability as industrial raw material. From the study, it is Obtained that kpankorogi kaolin clay deposit is predominantly Quartz but with high SiO2 and Al2O3 contents, while ijero Ekiti k ... Continue reading---
REFRENCES - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]REFERENCESAderiye, J.(2005). Development of firebricks for furnances. M.Sc. Thesis, Acta 60 (4), 553–564. ADONDUA, S (1988). Indigenous Refractory Raw Materials Base for Nigerian Steel Industry Journal of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers (NSCHE), (7): 2, pp. 322-327. Aliyu, A. (1996): Potentials of the Solid Minerals Industry in Nigeria Abuja: RMDC. Pp. 1-40, 63 – 83, 164 – 172 Aref, A. (2009): Characterization and Evaluation of Alga Deposit of Yemen.Bailey S.W. ... Continue reading---
