Investigation of the use of lateritic ore waste in the coloring of porcelain floor tiles

The Lateritic ore wastes (LCA) may pose a threat to the environment due to the heavy metals they contain.However, it is a potential source of raw material to produce cheap and environmentally friendly pigments with its valuable elements such as Fe, Cr, Mn and Ni. In this thesis study, the coloring of porcelain floor tile bodies in the CoO-Fe2O3 system using LCA and CoO was investigated. The coloring of porcelain bodies was investigated between 1130-1200 °C using LCA (3%) and cobalt oxide (0.1-0.5%). The raw materials were analyzed by phase analysis (XRD), thermal analysis (DTA) and chemical analysis (XRF). The effects of sintering temperature and additives on porcelain tile properties, phase analysis (XRD), microstructure (SEM), porosity, water absorption, bulk density, bending test and color properties were determined. With the addition of LCA, bodies in brown tones were obtained, while with the addition of LCA and increasing cobalt oxide, bodies in gray-anthracite tones were obtained. Additionally, the addition of LCA and CoO contributed to the decrease of the sintering temperature of porcelain tiles. The produced porcelain tile samples have a water absorption value below 0.1%, are non-porous, have a shrinkage value below 8.30% and have a bending strength of 53-66 Mpa. With this thesis study, it has been seen that using LCA as a colorant in porcelain floor tiles will be advantageous.