An investigation into the utilization of phosphate and boron containing water in roof tile bodies

In this study, it was attempted to improve physical, mechanical and thermal properties of the tile bodies. The experiments for this purpose were conducted in four stages. In the first stage, the effect of boron containing water as mixing water to tile bodies was investigated. In this experiments, tap water, boron containing water at various concentrations such as 1%, 2% and 3% boric acid and also boron containing waste water taken from Espey Waste Ponds of Emet Colemanite Mine was used. Tile muds comprised of known amount of clay components and mixing water at a ratio of 25% were dried and then sintered at 1000ºC, 1050ºC, 1100ºC and 1150ºC. In the second stage of the experiments, the effect of phosphate addition to tile clay was investigated. The new tile bodies were prepared by adding phosphate at various ratios such as %5, %10, %15 and %20 to tile clays. In the third stage, the selected body of phosphate and clay blends (95% tile clay + 5% phosphate) was mixed with boron containing water and the effects were investigated. In the forth and the final stage of the experiments, all the tile bodies obtained from the first, second and third stages were sintered in a Hoffman type of industrial kiln. The measurement of total shrinkage, fired strength, water absorption, porosity and colour for each tile body were made and the results were evaluated The optimum values were obtained from the bodies coded as KB2 and B2 which were sintered at 1100ºC for 60 minutes. The failure loads of KB2 and B2 coded bodies were found to be approximately 60% and 75% higher than those of given by the Turkish Standard of TS EN 1304, respectively. On the other hand, water absorption values were found to be lower than the threshold values. Keywords: Roof Tile, Boron, Phosphate