Development of Heat Treatment Refractory Bricks Using Local Nigerian Clays

This report presents a prelimnary investigation into the development of heat treatment refractory bricks using two local Nigerian clays. Ten different sample compositions of two different clay deposits from Awo (Egbedore local Government) and Ipetumodu (Ife North Local Government) areas of Osun State, Nigeria, were collected and analysed. The effect of Portland cement on the refractory properties of the clays was studied. The sample mixes of the clay and West African Portland Cement were prepared in varying proportions. Physical and thermal property tests such as thermal shock, thermal conductivity, apparent porosity, shrinkage and cold crushing strength were carried out on the samples. The prelimnary results obtained showed that the sample composition containing between 20% and 30% West African Portland Cement (WAPCO) of both samples can be used for the manufacture of heat treatment furnaces bricks by blending the addition with more non-linear expansivity materials to increase thermal shock resistance.