Characterization of Alkaline Basaltic Tuffs and Their Application in the Synthesis of Ceramic and Glass Ceramic Materials

Alkaline basaltic tuffs, BT, from southern Turkey were characterized and used to obtain cheap sintered glass-ceramic and ceramic materials. The chemical and mineralogical compositions were analyzed by fluourescene spectrometry and X-ray diffraction analyses, respectively. The phase formation were studied by DTA, while the sintering behavior – by differentional dilatometer. The structure of the sintered samples was evaluated by pycnometric techniques and observed by SEM. Due to its high porosity and low crystallinity the studied tuffs are appropriate for industrial applications. Ceramic material, based on 50 % BT and 50 % industrial clays, was obtained at 1150 °C, while glass ceramic was synthesized after re-melting of BT and densification at 1080 °C. It was also demonstrated that well sintered material may be produced directly from the milled tuffs after heat-treatment at 1120 °C.