Effect of Bentonite on Properties of Fly Ash-Based Porous Ceramics

Recycling fly ash in a way with high benifits is important to environmental conservation and sustainable development. Using bentonite as binder and coal powder as pore-forming agent, the fly ash-based porous ceramics was prepared and effects of bentonite on performances of the ceramics were researched. With the increasing of bentonite content from 3.0mass% to 5.0mass%, liquid phase sintering process was promoted and the bending strength improved from 5.46 to 6.09Mpa. Contrarily, the open porosity decreased from 48.18% to 44.39%. But more bentonite addition would result in some larger pores distributed inhomogeneously in the microstructure so that the bend strength fell down and porosity went up.