The increase in the production and use of dimension stones promotes undesirable environmental impacts. In the sawing process of blocks, the slurry is generated and becomes a non biodegradable solid waste after drying. These wastes have some composition similar to that of some components present in the clay mass used in the manufacture of red ceramic. This study aims to evaluate the technological properties of red ceramic incorporated with dimension stone waste from the diamond wire loom. The compositions were prepared with 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 wt.% dimension stone waste in the clay. The samples were uniaxially pressed with dimensions approximately 110 x 25 x 10 mm³. The following sintering conditions were investigated: 900 ºC, 1000 ºC and 1100 ºC, all for 1 and 2 h. The sintered samples were characterized by water absorption, density and flexural strength. The Weibull statistics was used to analyze the reproducibility and reliability of the mechanical strength testing. The results showed that the most favorable condition for sintering was 1100 ºC/1 h and that the use of up to 60 wt.% dimension stone waste in pure clay is viable for production of red ceramics. Moreover, the allocation of the dimension stone waste for the manufacture of red ceramics minimizes the environmental impact on the environment.
dimension stones; red ceramic; mechanical properties
