Residents of Perm have discovered how to produce ceramic bricks using waste from the forestry industry.

The ceramics industry focuses on producing various products made from clay, including bricks, tiles, refractory materials, and various pottery items. To create effective ceramic building materials, in addition to clay, additives that burn out, such as ground coal, peat, and wood chips, are also used. These additives enhance the material's porosity and ensure uniform firing. Researchers at Perm Polytechnic University have explored the possibility of using technogenic raw materials from industrial waste, such as byproducts from the pulp and paper and woodworking industries, as these additives. This approach will increase the potential for recycling and expand the formulas for producing ceramic bricks and blocks in construction.

2025-01-21 10:01:56https://naked-science.ru/article/column/kirpichi-s-pomoshhyu-otho

The article with the results has been published in the collection "Innovations in Construction. KNAUF Technologies." The research was conducted within the framework of the strategic academic leadership program "Priority 2030."

Burnout additives in the clay mixture create the necessary porosity, enhance the uniformity of firing throughout the ceramic material's volume, and reduce fuel consumption as well as the time required for firing. Depending on the conditions of their formation, some of these additives may also provide additional benefits, making the clay mass more plastic and workable. These properties largely determine the accuracy of the shape and the quality of the final product. Therefore, the introduction of new types of components in the production of ceramic products necessitates detailed studies.

Scientists from Perm Polytechnic University investigated how technogenic burnout additives from industrial waste affect the properties of clay raw materials. Specifically, they examined hydrolytic lignin, which is formed during the processing of coniferous and deciduous wood, and sludge obtained from the treatment of wastewater from paper and cardboard production.

These wastes are characterized as non-hazardous; however, their annual formation in large volumes places a significant burden on the ecological system. One potential avenue for their secondary use could be the production of building materials in the form of ceramic bricks and blocks.

The polytechnic researchers analyzed the chemical composition of lignin and sludge, as well as the main component – moderately plastic low-melting clay raw materials. Subsequently, to determine the maximum allowable content of additives in the ceramic mass and assess their mutual influence on the final properties of the products, they prepared laboratory compositions. The samples were evaluated for plasticity and molding properties, as well as the material's behavior at various firing temperatures – including its water absorption, density, and shrinkage.

"We found that adding technogenic components exceeding 25 percent has a significant negative impact on the plasticity and molding properties of the clay. The optimal content of hydrolytic lignin was found to be 11-12 percent of the clay raw material's mass, with firing temperatures ranging from 980 to 1040°C. For sludge, the optimal content was 13-14 percent at temperatures between 1000 and 1020°C. Adhering to these parameters will allow for the production of ceramic products with the required characteristics and material quality," shared Vitaly Shamanov, Associate Professor of the "Construction Engineering and Materials Science" department, acting dean of the Faculty of Construction at PNIPU, and candidate of technical sciences.

The research conducted by scientists at Perm Polytechnic University confirmed that industrial waste, such as hydrolytic lignin and sludge from mechanical wastewater treatment, can be considered technogenic raw materials for the comprehensive modification of construction ceramic materials. This will expand the raw material base for producing bricks and blocks in construction and reduce the technogenic load on the environment.