Manufacturing new ceramic materials from clay and red mud derived from the aluminium industry

The main goal of this study is to manufacture ceramic materials by adding the highly hazardous waste “red mud” to a ceramic matrix and neutralizing this waste in the matrix. The optimal proportion of mud to clay was found to be 50%. The samples manufactured were analyzed using XRD to determine the crystalline phases generated, and the microstructure was analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Adding this industrial waste to the ceramic structure modifies and improves the physical and mechanical properties due to the great amount of vitreous phase that the waste produces.

► Determination of the influence of red mud addition on the physicochemical properties of the ceramic. ► Ceramic microstructure and characterization by XRD and SEM/EDX micro-analysis. ► The optimum percentage of red mud was 50% and the sintering temperature was 950 °C.