Microstructure of Ceramic Brick Contaminated by Magnesium Sulphate

Abstract:

Durability of building ceramics is determined by phase composition, the presence of various admixtures and porosity structure. Insertion of salts into the ceramic materials of bricks causes a gradual loss of the original properties of the material. The studies presented in this paper relate to the impact of magnesium sulfate salts to the microstructure change of the ordinary ceramic brick treated. Two types of ceramic bricks were selected for the studies with significantly different properties of shard, which through capillary action were brought to full saturation by solutions. Determination of changes in microstructure of the test materials by the process of crystallization of salts derived from solutions and the crystallization of the corrosion products, was carried out by observation of the microstructure in SEM. In selected places, chemical analysis was performed to determine the changes in the phase composition of the test materials. As a very important factor that affects the stability of ceramic brick is its porosity, pore structure determination was performed by mercury intrusion porosimetry. Based on the received results, the categorization of pores was presented with the indication of priority place of accumulation of crystallizing salts.

• Periodical: Advances in Science and Technology (Volume 92)
• Pages: 203-208
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AST.92.203
• Online since: October 2014
• Authors: Teresa Stryszewska*, Stanisław Kańka
• Keywords: Ceramic Brick, Magnesium Sulphate, Microstructure, Porosity Structure

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