Blending electric arc furnace slag and municipal incineration bottom ash to make ceramic tiles

Previous research has individually demonstrated the successful waste recycling of Municipal Incineration Bottom Ash (MIBA) and Electric Arc Furnace Slag (EAFS) for tile making. This study explored a new frontier of combining both MIBA and EAFS to produce quality floor and wall tiles. EAFS was introduced to reinforce strength and address the quality issues associated with MIBA tiles. Tile samples were formulated with different combinations of MIBA, EAFS, and clay, subjected to various kiln firing temperatures. Findings indicated that the inclusion of EAFS led to enhanced tile water absorption and bending strength, particularly at a firing temperature of 1150celcius. The integration of EAFS played a pivotal role in consolidating tile structure, mitigating gas release, and reducing internal porosity during crystallization phase. Through the utilization of 30% MIBA and 3% EAFS, tiles that conform to class Ib standards were successfully manufactured. Additionally, the study highlighted that the addition of 9% EAFS alone could elevate the tiles to meet class Ia standards if no MIBA was added.