Fabrication of Porous Anorthite Ceramics Using Eggshell Waste as a Calcium Source and Expanded Polystyrene Granules

Within the scope of present work, porous and lightweight anorthite ceramics by utilizing admixtures of eggshell waste, fireclay, and expanded polystyrene (EPS) addition has been produced. First, samples of mixtures prepared with different proportions of eggshell waste were fired at different temperatures in order to determine the appropriate anorthite composition. Later, in order to produce high porosity anorthite ceramics, different amounts of EPS are added to the most suitable composition determined and porous samples were produced by firing at the certain temperature. The high degree of porous anorthite ceramics from the admixtures in the range of 0 to 30 vol.% EPS addition were satisfactorily fabricated. The physical characteristics, compressive strength and thermal conductivity were examined. Thermal conductivity of the anorthite ceramics showed a decline from 0.39 W/m·K (1.00 g/cm3) to 0.11 W/m·K (0.78 g/cm3) in proportion to the decrease in density. It has been found from the results in which these porous materials produced by the reuse of eggshell waste are suitable for use in various applications requiring elevated temperatures.