Who should attend
This course offers a comprehensive review of the impact of Geopolymer technology on the manufacture of Low-energy ceramics and bricks. It is designed for professionals involved in all aspects of ceramic and brick manufactures for a wide range of product development in Industrialized as well as Emerging countries, including:
- Research & Development.
- Technology, Formulation & Product Development.
- Non Governmental Organizations involved in low-cost, low-tech building materials.
Learning objectives
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Define the fundamental principles and concepts of L.T.G.S. (Low Temperature Geopolymeric Setting) of ceramics.
- Distinguish between clay and soil raw materials those best adapted to Low-Energy manufacture.
- Specify the best equipment and technology for standard ceramics or low-cost brick manufacture.
First day: Geopolymer Ceramic manufacture, definitions
08:45 Registration
09:00-10:45 Mineral geopolymer concept
The book Geopolymer Chemistry and Applications
Polymeric character, terminology, geopolymeric micelle, molecular weight
10:45-11:00 Coffee break
11:00-13:00 Macromolecular structure of natural silicates and aluminosilicates
Kaolinite, clays and shales. Raw-materials analysis
Feldspars, nepheline, albite, phillipsite, kalsilite, leucite
14:15-16:15 Laboratory demonstration
Examples of geopolymer ceramic items
16:15-16-30 Coffee break
16:30-17:30 Archaeological ceramics
25.000 year-old geopolymer ceramic: Venus of Dolni Vestonice
Second day: Low Temperature Geopolymeric Setting of ceramic, LTGS
09:00-10:45 Kaolinite / Hydrosodalite based geopolymer, poly(sialate) Si:Al=1:1
Ultra rapid in-situ geopolymerization of kaolinite in hydrosodalite, Na-poly(sialate)
Geopolymerization mechanism of kaolinite under co-valent bonding concept
10:45-11:00 Coffee break
11:00-13:00 Low Temperature Geopolymeric Setting of ceramic, LTGS
Geopolymeric setting at temperature below 65°C, 80°C and 450°C
Resistance to water; physical properties
14:15-16:15 Laboratory demonstration of LTGS (1)
16:15-16-30 Coffee break
16:30-17:30 Economics of LTGS
Third day: Geopolymer technology in ceramic manufacture, economics
09:00-10:45 Low-energy ceramic processing and sustainable development
Geopolymer formation in green ceramic bodies (biscuit)
Chemical and physical mechanism for ultra rapid firing
10:45-11:00 Coffee break
11:00-13:00 Ceramics with no clay?
Geopolymerization of aluminosilicate raw materials
mine tailings, fly ashes, sands with low clay content, weathered granitic sands
14:15-16:15 Hightech geopolymer ceramics
manufacture of ceramics based on: albite, kalsilite, leucite, nepheline, anorthite,
16:15-16-30 Coffee break
16:30-16:45 Collection of samples in laboratory
