Variations of Strength, Resistivity and Thermal Parameters of Clay after High Temperature Treatment

This paper reports the variations of strength, resistivity and thermal parameters of clay after high-temperature heating. Experiments were carried out to test the physical properties of clay heated at temperatures ranging from room temperature to 800 degrees C in a furnace. The experiment results show that below 400 degrees C the uniaxial compressive strength and resistivity change very little. However, above 400 degrees C, both increase rapidly. At a temperature under 400 degrees C, the thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity decrease significantly. The thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) test indicate that a series of changes occur in kaolinite at temperatures from 400 to 600 degrees C, which is considered the primary cause of the variation of physical and mechanical properties of clay under high temperatures.