Characteristics of Kaolinitic Raw Materials from the Lokoundje River (Kribi, Cameroon) for Ceramic Applications
Eight kaolinitic materials from the Lokoundje River at Kribi were sampled and investigated for their physical, chemical, mineralogical and thermal characteristics in order to evaluate their potential suitability as raw materials in ceramics. The Lokoundje kaolinitic materials are clayey to silty cla...
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| author | Paul-Désiré Ndjigui Jean Aimé Mbey Soureiyatou Fadil-Djenabou Vincent Laurent Onana Elie Constantin Bayiga Christophe Enock Embom Georges-Ivo Ekosse |
| author_facet | Paul-Désiré Ndjigui Jean Aimé Mbey Soureiyatou Fadil-Djenabou Vincent Laurent Onana Elie Constantin Bayiga Christophe Enock Embom Georges-Ivo Ekosse |
| author_sort | Paul-Désiré Ndjigui |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Eight kaolinitic materials from the Lokoundje River at Kribi were sampled and investigated for their physical, chemical, mineralogical and thermal characteristics in order to evaluate their potential suitability as raw materials in ceramics. The Lokoundje kaolinitic materials are clayey to silty clayey and are predominantly composed of kaolinite and quartz. The alkali (Na<sub>2</sub>O + K<sub>2</sub>O) content ranges between 1 and 2.5 wt.%; these low values do not favor vitrification of the ceramics but may be improved through flux amendment. The presence of goethite in some samples limits their utilization in white ceramics. The minerals content, color, metallic sound, cohesion, linear shrinkage, flexural strength, bulk density, water absorption and microstructure were determined. The XRD data reveal that kaolinite and goethite were transformed, respectively, into mullite and hematite. The colors of the fired products are characteristic of their mineral assemblage. The metallic sound is indicative of low vitrification which is confirmed by the presence of cracks due to low flux contents. The cohesion is good to very good, due to the abundance of kaolinite. The physicomechanical properties increase with temperature as well as densification. The geochemical data show that the Lokoundje alluvial clays are suitable for the manufacture of white stoneware tiles. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:53:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b1c3e600642c40a2a410f39138af9c86 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:53:07Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-b1c3e600642c40a2a410f39138af9c862023-11-22T02:34:06ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172021-07-011113611810.3390/app11136118Characteristics of Kaolinitic Raw Materials from the Lokoundje River (Kribi, Cameroon) for Ceramic ApplicationsPaul-Désiré Ndjigui0Jean Aimé Mbey1Soureiyatou Fadil-Djenabou2Vincent Laurent Onana3Elie Constantin Bayiga4Christophe Enock Embom5Georges-Ivo Ekosse6Department of Earth Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, CameroonDepartment of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, CameroonDepartment of Life and Earth Sciences, Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Maroua, P.O. Box 55, Maroua, CameroonDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, CameroonDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of Douala, P.O. Box 24157, Douala, CameroonDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, CameroonDirectorate of Research and Innovation, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, South AfricaEight kaolinitic materials from the Lokoundje River at Kribi were sampled and investigated for their physical, chemical, mineralogical and thermal characteristics in order to evaluate their potential suitability as raw materials in ceramics. The Lokoundje kaolinitic materials are clayey to silty clayey and are predominantly composed of kaolinite and quartz. The alkali (Na<sub>2</sub>O + K<sub>2</sub>O) content ranges between 1 and 2.5 wt.%; these low values do not favor vitrification of the ceramics but may be improved through flux amendment. The presence of goethite in some samples limits their utilization in white ceramics. The minerals content, color, metallic sound, cohesion, linear shrinkage, flexural strength, bulk density, water absorption and microstructure were determined. The XRD data reveal that kaolinite and goethite were transformed, respectively, into mullite and hematite. The colors of the fired products are characteristic of their mineral assemblage. The metallic sound is indicative of low vitrification which is confirmed by the presence of cracks due to low flux contents. The cohesion is good to very good, due to the abundance of kaolinite. The physicomechanical properties increase with temperature as well as densification. The geochemical data show that the Lokoundje alluvial clays are suitable for the manufacture of white stoneware tiles.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/13/6118Kribialluvial clayskaolinitevalorizationlow mullitizationwhite stoneware tiles |
| spellingShingle | Paul-Désiré Ndjigui Jean Aimé Mbey Soureiyatou Fadil-Djenabou Vincent Laurent Onana Elie Constantin Bayiga Christophe Enock Embom Georges-Ivo Ekosse Characteristics of Kaolinitic Raw Materials from the Lokoundje River (Kribi, Cameroon) for Ceramic Applications Applied Sciences Kribi alluvial clays kaolinite valorization low mullitization white stoneware tiles |
| title | Characteristics of Kaolinitic Raw Materials from the Lokoundje River (Kribi, Cameroon) for Ceramic Applications |
| title_full | Characteristics of Kaolinitic Raw Materials from the Lokoundje River (Kribi, Cameroon) for Ceramic Applications |
| title_fullStr | Characteristics of Kaolinitic Raw Materials from the Lokoundje River (Kribi, Cameroon) for Ceramic Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characteristics of Kaolinitic Raw Materials from the Lokoundje River (Kribi, Cameroon) for Ceramic Applications |
| title_short | Characteristics of Kaolinitic Raw Materials from the Lokoundje River (Kribi, Cameroon) for Ceramic Applications |
| title_sort | characteristics of kaolinitic raw materials from the lokoundje river kribi cameroon for ceramic applications |
| topic | Kribi alluvial clays kaolinite valorization low mullitization white stoneware tiles |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/13/6118 |
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