Development of a Novel Composite Tile using Meetiyagoda Kaolinite Reinforced with Polylactic Acid (PLA)
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Date
2021
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Publisher
Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
Sri Lanka has high quality Kaolinite deposit in Meetiyagoda that govern by the Lanka Ceramic PLC
and refined kaolinite has provided to the local ceramic industries. Kaolinite, is a layered silicate clay
mineral composed with low shrink–swell capacity and cation-exchange capacity. Mostly ceramic tile
production is suffering with cracking, low strength, high weight and less waterproof capacity. Hence,
ceramic tile industry has been updating with product advancement gradually since last decades.
Specially, the evolution of tile body formulations and technological behavior of clay composite
materials have taken in to attention. This trend has taken step forward with introducing novel
composites by mixing polymer materials with raw materials. Polylactic Acid (PLA) is a blend
composite having low stiffness, high tensile strength and high gas permeability. Therefore, the
present study is focused on develop a composite material by mixing PLA and kaolin in order to
obtain low weight, high strength and waterproof ceramic tiles. Initially Kaolin samples were collected
from Meetiyagoda Kaolinite deposit and all the samples were tested for moisture content & were
subjected to physical purification by mixing with distilled water and obtained a milky color clay
solution. After that dried clay samples were powdered and 125 micron size fraction was obtained by
mechanical sieving. Then while PLA was heating to its melting temperature (1700C), kaolinite was
added time to time (ratio in 50:50) into PLA container and mixed using a heat stirrer in 1700C for 30
min to develop a slurry which then set up in a mould. Then the prepared novel composite tile sample
was tested on water absorption, compressive strength & crystal structure was tested by using the X-
Ray diffraction (XRD).As an overall result the novel tile sample shows almost 0% water absorption
with time and also it is very light in weight with a considerable amount of strength. This novel tile
can be developed with low temperature (1700C). Therefore, the product is cost effective. Future of
this research can be directed to enhance more properties based on what material used to reinforce the
kaolinite (Ex: Glass fiber, Silica, graphite) and we can use this reinforced kaolinite as a raw material
to develop a novel cement (plaster) to apply in building constructions.
Keywords: Kaolinite; PLA; Novel reinforced tile; Water absorption
Description
Keywords
Mineral Sciences, Materials Sciences, Composite Tile, Geochemistry, Lanka Ceramic