Mixture design of Colombian clays to obtain light weight aggregates

Reference	Presenter	Authors (Institution)	Abstract
16-069	Santiago Betancourt	Betancourt, S.(Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana); Carvajal, I.(Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana); Martinez, J.D.(Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana); Betancurt, M.(Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana);	Ceramic aggregates for construction applications have been consolidated as a sustainable alternative that provides significant improvements in mechanical properties of concrete and other construction materials. Light weight aggregates (LWA) are a kind of aggregates quite attractive due to their reduced density (bulk density or particle density lower than 1.20 g/cm3 and 2.00 g/cm3, respectively). This kind of aggregates is obtained as a consequence of expansion, bloating and gas release during firing of the certain minerals and clay compositions present in the raw material. The aim of the present work was to study five Colombian clays and their potential as a raw material for LWA production. Fundamental oxides and phases were analyzed by FRx and DRx techniques, respectively. Also, thermogravimetric analysis TGA was performed in order to identify the main thermal transitions present in each clay. A mixture design was carried out using a 52 simplex-centroid type. Density and flexural strength of mixtures after a sintering at 1000 °C were evaluated. Strength and density functions were found for the types of clay and mixtures evaluated. Additionally, some mixtures with LWA density were obtained.
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