Ceramic suitability of a Moroccan triassic clays

Abstract
The drying behaviour, plasticity and firing properties (water absorption, shrinkage and bending strength) of two clays, RA and RO from the East and West of the high atlas (Morocco) respectively, were evaluated and discussed in view of the granulometric distribution and mineralogical compositions. It is found that the almost identical drying shrinkages is linked to the similar granulometry, and the higher Atterberg limits for RA are associated to the presence of chlorite (11 wt.%). In addition, it is established that, in spite of their different mineralogical compositions, the sintering process for both clays is controlled by melt flow and consequently the bending strengths at the maximum firing temperatures (1000 and 1075 C for RA and RO respectively) are similar ( 58 MPa). On the other hand, it is observed that RA sherds shrink more and absorb less water, likely because of the presence of chlorite which is considered as a highly fluxing compound. In all cases, the use of both clays for structural products manufacturing should be improved by the addition of fillers.