Optimization of lightweight expanded clay production by using the taguchi method

In the production of lightweight expanded clay, it is important to know which parameters are effective and to determine the effect of these parameters on the expansion. In this study, the optimum functioning of slightly expanded clay balls was investigated by the Taguchi method, and the water absorption rate in the expansion process and firing was reviewed and analyzed as a value. In addition, the water absorption rate and grain density were analyzed under optimum conditions. In the study, organic matter percentage (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4), preheating temperature (150, 200, 300, 400 and 500oC), preheating time (1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 minutes), The sintering temperature (1050, 1100, 1150, 1175 and 1200oC) and sintering time (5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 minutes) were chosen and the grain size was fixed as below 250 µm in all of the experiments. Accordingly, the optimum conditions were found to be organic matter percentage 3%, preheating temperature 150oC, preheating time 1 minute, sintering temperature 1200oC and sintering time 13 minutes. Under these conditions, the estimated expansion rate is 4.34%, a value of 4.32% in the experiments, the estimated value for the cooking loss is 30.30%, and a value of 31.63% was obtained in the experiments. In addition, the percentage effects of the parameters on the outputs were calculated.