PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND MINERAL OGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CERAMIC CLAYS IN ITAM, ITU CROSS RIVER STATE NIGERIA

ATTENTION:

BEFORE YOU READ THE ABSTRACT OR CHAPTER ONE OF THE PROJECT TOPICS BELOW, PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW.THANK YOU!

INFORMATION:

YOU CAN GET THE COMPLETE PROJECT OF THE TOPIC BELOW. THE FULL PROJECT COST N5,000 ONLY. THE FULL INFORMATION ON HOW TO PAY AND GET THE COMPLETE PROJECT IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE. OR

YOU CAN CALL: 08068231953, 08137701720

WHATSAPP US ON: 08137701720

PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND MINERAL OGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CERAMIC CLAYS IN ITAM, ITU CROSS RIVER STATE NIGERIA

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page

Acknowledgement

List of figures

List of tables

Abstract

Chapter one

Introduction

general introduction
1. previous work
1. present work/objective and scope

Chapter two

2.0 geomorphology

2.1 location

2.2 climate and vegetation

2.3 drainage and relief

2.4 soil formation

Chapter three

3.0 methods of Investigation

3.1 Field investigation

3.1.1 Laboratory Analysis

3.2 Grain size Analysis

3.2.1 procedure

3.3 liquid limits

3.3.1 procedure

3.4 plastic Limits

3.4.1 procedure

3.5 Test for Linear shrinkage

3.5.1 procedure

3.6 dry or Green strength

3.6.1 procedure

3.7 fired properties

3.7.1 firing shrinkage

3.7.2 procedure

3.7.3 fired colour

3.7.4 water Absorption

3.8 chemical Analysis

3.9 X-ray Diffraction

3.9.1 procedure

3.10. Differential Thermal Analysis

Chapter four

4.0 result, interpretation and Analysis of data

4.1 Moisture content Result

4.2 particle size analysis results

4.3 Atterberg Limit results

4.4 Wet – Dry shrinkage results

4.5 Green strength results

4.6 firing shrinkage

4.7 water Absorption at various temperature

4.8 firing colour

4.9 chemical Analysis

4.10 x-ray diffraction (XRD)

4.11 differential Thermal Analysis (DTA)

Chapter five

Summary and conclusion

References

Appendices

ABSTRACT

The sedimentary caly deposits of Itam consist principally kaolinite (63 percent). Qurtz is the dorminant non-clay mineral present.

The estimated reserves for the deposits are quite substantial and is approximately 300-400 million metric tones, and may exceed 25-30 years of maximum use.

The deposits consists of mainly silt and clays size faction (about 96 percent) and less than5 percent fine sand. Ti contains significant amount of organic content.

Atterberg limit are generally high, high liquid limit (57.11 – 72.46 percent). The clay possess high plasticity and the plasticity increase with increase fine and depth. The clays classify as inorganic silts of high plasticity (MH) in the casagrade plasticity chart but they are texturally silty clays.

The percentage water absorption of the fired and nonfired) of (8) was observed.

Colour changes in firing from yellow to yellowish brown in samples with high iron content while in other samples the colour change from grey to cream white and do not show significant ceack on firing.

The content of A1₂ o₃ 29.5-50.2 percent, iron 1.3- 1.7 percent and flux oxide are very low 1.2 percent.

The mineralogical composition and physical characteristics of thee clays indicate that they may be suitable for various industrial (Ceramic) uses.

CAHPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 GENRAL INTRODUCITON

Recently much attention has been drown to the industrial potentials of Nigeria clays as most companies that make use of specialty clays can no longer import them readily because of foreign exchange difficulties.

Many clay deposits have been reported in various parts of Nigeria although very few of them have been fully characterised and assessed for cedramic purposes.

They occur in different geological setting ranging from hard rocks (Basement) to sedimentary and alluvial environment. The Itam ceramic clays are tertiary sedimentary clays; of the coastal plain sand.

Continuous importation of all our ceramic product will make Nigeria expand huge sums of foreign exchange and at the same time make her dependent on the foreign supplies thereby exposing her to the manipulation of these foreign countries.

Therefore ‘’all efforts made in research endeavour can only be meaningful when products derived from such venture reach the market place and became useful to the society at large’’.

The term clay or clay material may be defined in different ways. To the Geologist, the term clay or clay materials is usually applied to earth natural material that are aluminium silicate with grain sizes less than 2 u(0.002 min)

To the ceramist, the real user of clays, it is a matter of both those qualities mentioned above and of the usability formability and firing behaviour of the material.

The most users (to industry and to the ceramic engineer or ceramic artist) it is very fine grained unconsolidated rock material, which is plastic and sickly when wet but hard and stone-like when fired.

Industrial clays:

Fro mthe geological view point clay material can be classified on the basis of the mode of formation (origin) or the structure and type of the individual clay minerals. But with regard to industries, it is the industrial application rather than geological that is important and consequently, this constitutes the basis of classification of industrial or specialty clays. The main classes are: china clays kaolins, fire clays, ball clays kaolins, fie lays, ball clays, bentonite, full earth (absorbent clays) and Brick/plastic clays.

The main types of clays used for ceramic purposes are briefly discussed; china-clays kaolins, fireclays all clays.

China-clay kalins:

Commercial kalins contain between 80-90 percent of the clay mineral (kaolinite), with quartz, illite or feldspar as the main impurities.

Pure kaolin has a refractorines of about 1785⁰c without less of shape or showing signs of serious cracking or other physical defects.

The colour of th fired kaolin is white but clays with significant proportions of iron, bearing minerals have other colour (brown, red, pink) which make the mless valuable for some ceramic purposes.

It is characterised by low shrinkage and dry strength low plasticity and it is used in the manufactures of porecelian and white are.

The occurrence of pure hydrothermal kaolin has not yet been reported in Nigeria.

Fire clays:

They constitute the most important group of refractory clays an they may occur as flint clays, plastic clays or shale. Generally, the higher the alumina content, (or the lower th silica content), the higher the refractoriness. High quality firebrick or high alumina bricks are manufactured from clays with alumina content of more than 65 percent. This is relatively pure clay free from much concentrations of iron with fusion temperature of about 1500^oc. it is used for other refractory parts for kilns, furnaces, boilers, metallurgical industries.

Ball clays

Ball clays secondary clays commonly characterised by the presence of organic matter, high plasticity high dry strength, long verification range and light colour when fired. Kalin is the principal clay mineral and normally constitutes more than 70 percent of the mineral constituent. Ball clays have smaller particles (more than 50 percent smaller than 2u) than china clays, pure kaolin or fire clays. The ceramic properties or uses of ball clays is largely controlled by the relative abundance of the mineral and organic matter present.

It is used in the manufacture of vitreous/china sanitary wares, electrical porecelain, floor and wall tiles, dinner wares, art and pottery ware, ceramic glazes, refractory products, and porecelain enamel slips.

1.2 previous work

The mapped area is one of the least documented area in Nigeria. There is little or no published record done in this area under close study. However, there is a report of study carry out by the Nigeria Geological survey, but the results of the study are not available.

At Ikot Ebom Itam personal communication with the indigenes indicates a previous study of this clay for the purpose of establishing a ceramic industry. This project did not however materialize and the result unpolished.

Communication with the Geologist Mr E P Edom and Quality Control Engineer Mr S U Udo both of Quality ceramic Ltd. Mining this clay deposit revealed that there is no available data on previous work done.

1.3 present work/objective and scope

The aim of this present investigation is to study the physic-chemical mineralogical characteristics of the Itam-Itu ceramic clay.

It is also the aim of the study to assess the quality of the clay with respect to the manufacture of ceramic wares.

The scope of study include x-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal analysis (DTA), particle size distribution, plastic limit, liquid limit, plasticity indices shrinkage and firing characteristics.

HOW TO RECEIVE PROJECT MATERIAL (S)

After paying the appropriate amount (#5,000) into our bank Account below, send the following information to

08068231953 or 08168759420

(1) Your project topics

(2) Email Address

(3) Payment Name

OR you drop them on our WhatsApp, 08137701720

We will send your material(s) after we receive bank alert

BANK ACCOUNTS

Account Name: AMUTAH DANIEL CHUKWUDI

Account Number: 0046579864

Bank: GTBank.