The present work aimed at studying the physical-mechanical properties of a ceramic paste for red porous wall tile using raw materials from the Northern Fluminense region. The ceramic paste was prepared by dry process and characterized regarding chemical composition, particle size analysis, X-ray diffraction and thermal behavior. The ceramic bodies were pressed under 35 MPa and sintered from 1080 to 1200 ºC in a fast-firing cycle. The sintered microstructure was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the sintered ceramic bodies exhibited low values of linear shrinkage, resulting in good dimensional stability. The microstructure was characterized by high porosity. In addition, the specifications for porous wall tiles (NBR 13818) were achieved in terms of the flexural strength and water absorption of the sintered ceramic bodies, indicating the potential of the ceramic raw materials of the region for this application.
porous wall tile; sintering; microstructure
