Influence of Nickel Slags on Structural Changes in Ceramic Bricks

The structural characteristics of ceramic brick samples with minimum and maximum slag content at the micro-, macro-, and meso-levels were determined using electron microscopy. Mercury intrusion porosimetry revealed the influence of nickel slag on reducing the number of the most critical pores with a size of 0.002 – 0.050 μm (meso-level) of a ceramic body, ensuring regulation of the formation of the pore phase during the firing process and increasing the frost-resistance of products. At the same time, it was established that an increase in the mass content of slag in the composition of the raw material charge, starting from 5%, determines the increase in the volume of pores larger than 0.050 μm (macro level) in the volume of the finished product. This causes a decrease in the strength of the samples. The results of electron microscopy of samples with a minimum and maximum content of nickel slag confirmed the identified structural features of the composite ceramic material at the micro-, macro-, and meso-level and were used in the development of technology for the production of ceramic bricks with the addition of industrial waste of nickel production.