Matérias-primas da região do Polo Cerâmico de Santa Gertrudes para fabricação de revestimentos cerâmicos: características e modelamento tecnológico

Abstract

The Santa Gertrudes Ceramic Region (PCSG) is the largest national producer of ceramic tiles, located in east-central region of São Paulo, encompassing different cities. PCSG uses various clays as the main raw material from the Corumbataí Formation, which is inserted in the Sedimentary Basin of Paraná, with more than 1.5M square kilometers. In this context, X-ray diffractograms of samples from different areas of PCSG were used for application of the cluster analysis. Aiming to group the samples in families and subsequently to seek the most representative for the complete analysis. Also, ceramic tests were made by the following methods: the green bulk density after pressing, flexural strength modulus for green tests were conducted after firing at 1070 °C and 1120 °C: apparent density after drying, flexural modulus; after firing: apparent density after firing, water absorption values, linear shrinkage sintering, apparent porosity, modulus of resistance to bending after firing. Further, from the georeferenced sample were created the 3D technological model of the region was developed from the interesting characteristics: water absorption values, bending rupture stress, using Micromine Mining Software, Enterprise Micromine, correlating ceramics properties with the chemical composition of the samples. The results indicated that the technological characteristics of clays varies depending on the ambient geological formation, and its proximity to the region found in magmatic bodies. It was possible to observe the correlation between SiO2 and Al2O3 optimal contents for ceramic coatings in some regions with water absorption and mechanical strength of the parts. In addition to these data, the suggested continued for further work, with analysis of other factors such as percentage of oxides of calcium, potassium and magnesium, among others. Regarding the grouping, six families of samples were created, which can be used directly by the ceramic industry, as preliminary raw material analysis, with XRD.