Increase of cracking resistance of ceramic masses of low-plastic clay

The object of research is the physical and chemical processes of forming the structure and properties of ceramic masses based on local low-melting clay raw materials of the Kyiv region of Ukraine by adjusting the chemical and mineralogical composition and technological regimes. Building ceramic materials are durable, ecological and natural. They provide increased comfort of buildings due to the creation of a favorable temperature and humidity climate of the premises. When using low-melting raw materials in production, there is a need to develop ways and methods to improve the quality of building ceramics. The efficiency of the manufacture of ceramic products largely depends on the processes that occur during drying. This is of crucial importance and affects the quality of finished products and accounts for 10–12 % of the total cost of finished products. Polymineral clay compositions with the addition of natural mineral raw materials are mainly used for the production of construction materials. For effective use of these materials, it is necessary to study their technological properties. Therefore, the question of researching masses based on low-melting clays with high sensitivity to drying, and the use of zeolite-containing mineral rock as an admixture is relevant. This will allow expanding the nomenclature of building ceramics products. Modern physico-chemical and physico-technological methods of research of raw materials and masses based on them during drying were used to solve the task of obtaining ceramic material from local raw materials with the use of a non-deficient natural additive of zeolite-containing rock as an admixture. The conducted studies indicate that the addition of zeolite-containing rock can be used to improve the drying properties of ceramic masses based on low-melting clays. Adding admixture of zeolite-containing rock also increased the compressive strength of finished products, which ensures defect-free transportation of products to other technological operations.