Laboratory Analysis of Accelerated Degradation in Pressed Red Ceramic Blocks
摘要
This study investigates the durability of red ceramic blocks produced by two different methods: pressing and firing (BPQ) and extrusion, pressing and firing (BCEPQ). The blocks were manufactured in the municipality of Campos dos Goytacazes with the collaboration of Arte Cerâmica Sardinha, using an Eco Master 7000 Turbo II Press for the pressing stage. Mechanical and technological characterization tests were performed on BPQ and BCEPQ blocks, both with and without degradation process. The degradation process included chemical attack and wetting/drying cycles to simulate changes in the ceramic material. The study analyzed chemical attack durations of 168, 336, and 504 h, along with 100 wetting/drying cycles (totaling 2,400 h) The results showed that the drying and wetting cycles were significantly affected by the crack patterns formed during the block production due to shrinkage in the drying and firing stages. However, BCEPQ blocks demonstrated better performance in terms of mechanical strength and water absorption rate compared to BPQ blocks.