The influence of shaping and firing technology on ceramic properties of calcareous and non-calcareous illitic–chloritic clays

Two very different illitic–chloritic clays (calcareous and non-calcareous), both currently used in the Italian brickmaking industry, were used. Technological testing consisted in a simulation of the industrial processing performed at a laboratory scale. The pieces were obtained by three shaping techniques, pressing, extrusion and moulding, and fired at 1000 and 1100 °C, in fast and slow heating cycles. In each case their technological properties were studied. The microstructure and technological parameters of the ceramic pieces vary greatly, depending on the clay composition and the processing techniques. Pressing always produces pieces made from non-calcareous clay with the lowest drying and firing shrinkage, open porosity and water absorption. As it regards the calcareous clay, the lowest values of drying and firing shrinkage and water absorption are obtained by extrusion and moulding, respectively. The mechanical resistance, pore size distribution and critical pore diameter do not reflect clearly the influence of shaping techniques. Independently from the shaping technique adopted, all non-calcareous bodies show higher Maageʹs indexes than the calcareous ones. In any case, the Maageʹs durability factor is higher in extruded samples.