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Characterisation and identification of local kaolin clay from Ghana: A potential material for electroporcelain insulator fabrication

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Knowles, KM 
Yaya, A 
Tiburu, EK 
Vickers, ME 
Efavi, JK 

Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate two kaolin clays from the southern part of Ghana, Assin-Fosu and Kumasi clays, as source clays for the fabrication of electroporcelain insulators. X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, chemical analyses and scanning electron microscopy observations showed the fired clay minerals have broadly similar characteristics, but with significant differences in their chemical composition. The alumina contents were determined to be 35 ± 2 wt% and 22 ± 2 wt% respectively for the two kaolins and the silica contents 49 ± 3 wt% and 58 ± 3 wt% respectively. It is concluded that Assin-Fosu kaolin is a reliable local source material for electroporcelain fabrication, while Kumasi kaolin is more suitable for making wall and floor tiles.

Description

Keywords

Assin-Fosu kaolin, electroporcelain insulators, kaolin, Kumasi kaolin, x-ray diffraction

Journal Title

Applied Clay Science

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0169-1317
1872-9053

Volume Title

150

Publisher

Elsevier
Sponsorship
Part of this work was undertaken at the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy at the University of Cambridge under the Cambridge-Africa Fellowship programme, for which AY and KMK acknowledge the Cambridge African Partnership for Research Exchange (CAPREx) for funding this study. AY and EKT also acknowledge support from the Office of Research, Innovation and Development (ORID), University of Ghana, Grant #URF/7/029/2013-2014.