USE of Thermal Power Engineering Waste to Reduce the Average Density of Ceramic Wall Materials with a Matrix Structure

It has been presented the results of studies on reducing the average density of ceramic wall materials through the use of ash granules. The chemical, granulometric, and mineral compositions of clay raw materials and fly ash are given. It has been considered the compositions of ceramic charges with different contents of thermal power waste and sample preparation techniques. In the first case, mechanical mixing of the charge components was used, in the second case, granulation of the components and creation of a shell on the surface of the granules was used. The physical and mechanical properties of ceramic samples produced by both methods are presented. It has been established that an increase in the fly ash content in the charge leads to a decrease in the average density and compressive strength of ceramic samples. The use of the developed method for producing ceramic materials increases the strength characteristics of the samples, which makes it possible to increase the content of the ash component to 70–80 wt. % in the composition of the charge. It has been shown that the content of fly ash in the charge is more than 60 wt. % leads to an increase in water absorption of more than 20%, which practically indicates the absence of sintering processes in ash granules. Prospects and main directions for further research are formulated.