Influence of additives on kaolinite clay properties- applications, trends, and a case study

In this present article, the influence of additives, reinforcements, and aggregates on kaolinite clay properties, its applications, and a case study had been established. Several properties and tests varying from mechanical, compressibility, optical, permeability, adsorption behaviours, structural, electrical, acid-base, activated, and surface properties were studied and a case of the thermal property was established with different additives. In this case study, the addition of sawdust of average particle sizes of 0. 1 mm and iron filling of average particle sizes of about 0.3 mm was admixtured together at a varying ratio. The samples were fired in a local kiln that achieved temperatures of 900 ^°C ~1200 ^°C. The thermal conductivity and the density had the highest values when 40% of iron filling and 0 % sawdust were added to kaolinite clay which produced 2.39 W/mK thermal conductivity and 2416 kg/m³ density and the least density was recorded as 94 Kg/m³ and these were recorded at 40 % and 0 % Iron filling. There was a decrease in the thermal conductivity as the percentage of iron filling decreases leading to a decrease in density of kaolinite brick.