The use of alunitic kaolin in ceramic tile production

In this research, a beneficiation process including mechanical scrubbing, screening and milling was applied to the alunitic kaolins of the Balikesir-Sindirgi region of Turkey to remove alunite and the other impurities, after size reduction. Chemical and mineralogical analysis of the size groups was made to determine the changes with the composition for SiO2, SO3 and Fe2O3. Afterwards, the use of concentrated kaolins in ceramic tile production was investigated. For this purpose, three different recipes were prepared in order to use the concentrated alunitic kaolins in place of the kaolin being used in a ceramic factory. The properties of the ceramic tiles produced were then compared with those of the factory's own products. It was finally proven that the use of concentrated alunitic kaolin at a ratio of 20% improved the physical properties of ceramic tiles of the factory and that the sulphur within the kaolin was tolerated.