Preparation and properties of ceramic facing brick from East-lake sediment

In order to utilize solid wastes, ceramic facing brick was made form East-lake sediment and some additives. The strength and freeze-thaw resistance of the samples were tested, and the crystal phases and microstructures were studied by XRD and SEM. The results indicate that the samples have a wide firing temperature range. The main crystal phases are CaAl2Si2O8, α-Al2O3, Fe2O3, which distribute uniformly in the samples. The sample have the best properties in the series ‘Ca-Al-Si’, and water absorption (Wa), porosity (Pa), bulk density (D), bending strength and compressive strength are 7.24%, 15.82%, 2.19 g·cm−3, 45.57 MPa and 56.81 MPa respectively, when the addition amount of East-lake sediment is 80% and the firing temperature is 1 100 °C. In the series ‘K-Al-Si’, the sample with the best properties was obtained when addition amount of East-lake sediment was 70% and firing temperature was 1 060 °C. The water absorption, porosity, bulk density, bending strength and compressive strength are 7.62%, 16.37%, 2.15 g·cm−3, 39.26 MPa, and 50.81 MPa respectively. They all come up to the national standardization, and meet the needs of manufacturing production.