This study focuses on the identification of an appropriate composition of raw materials for ceramic products from commonly available red clays in Sri Lanka. The raw materials were characterized in terms of particle size distribution, chemical and mineralogical composition. Different formulations of samples were prepared, and the linear shrinkage, water absorption and flexural strength of the final products were measured. Microstructures of fired samples were observed under a scanning electron microscope. The best quality product was obtained when the sample contains a high amount of illite clay in a mixture of 80 wt.% clay-silt and 20 wt.% sand. The presence of higher concentrations of the metal oxides Na2O, K2O and Fe2O3 (total ~21 wt.%) in the clay-silt fraction of samples has resulted in obtaining higher technological properties of the body. The flexural strength and the water absorption of the product are 26.82 MPa and 6.51% respectively. If the raw materials contain lower amounts of the oxides Na2O, K2O and Fe2O3, higher amounts of clay-silt fraction (up to 90 wt.%) must be added to obtain an optimum quality product.
red clay; illite; vitrification; ceramic products
