Influência da incorporação de resíduo do polimento do porcelanato na formulação de bloco intertravado cerâmico

Abstract

Following industrial development, natural resources began to be exploited in an intense and disorderly manner by civilizations, in search of rapid economic growth, generating more and more waste to be discarded in the environment. Currently, with the awareness of a significant portion of the world's population regarding the preservation and sustainability of the planet, a socio-environmental problem has emerged, requiring urgent solutions. Brazil generates around 100,000t of porcelain polishing waste annually, through the production of approximately 1 billion m² of coating, resulting in high costs for the ceramic sector, due to the logistics for its disposal. This work aimed to evaluate the influence of incorporating porcelain polishing residue into ceramic masses for the production of interlocking blocks. Different clay replacement proportions were used in order to evaluate the effects on its characteristics and properties, seeking its use in paving. Tests were carried out to characterize the raw materials, from a physical, chemical and mineralogical point of view, carrying out tests for X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, plasticity index, thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis, then formulating mixtures with residue incorporation percentages by weight of 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% in relation to the standard mass. The test specimens were manufactured by uniaxial pressing, using a steel matrix with a rectangular cavity, obtaining dimensions of 60 x 20 x 5mm, being sintered at temperatures of 900°C, 1000°C and 1100°C, and their properties physical, mechanical and microstructural determined through tests of linear burning shrinkage, water absorption, apparent porosity, apparent specific mass, bending rupture stress and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After the results obtained, it was observed that the incorporation of porcelain polishing residue contributed to improving the microstructure and, consequently, the mechanical resistance and water absorption properties of all formulations, with a percentage of 15% for the temperature of 1000°C and in the percentages of 5%, 10% and 15% for the temperature of 1100°C, it was possible to meet the requirements of the ASTM C902-22 standard, which specifies ceramic paving blocks for light traffic. Thus, it was concluded that the incorporation of porcelain polishing residue to formulate a ceramic interlocking block is technically viable, and its reuse helps to reduce the environmental impact and costs generated by its disposal.