Effects of Rice Husk Ash Addition on the Refractory Properties of Owo Clay
T.M. Onyia1, N. E. Idenyi2

1Tobias Makuochukwu Onyia, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Agbani (Nigeria), West Africa.

2Dr. Ndubuisi Edennaya Idenyi, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki (Nigeria), West Africa.    

Manuscript received on 27 September 2024 | Revised Manuscript received on 18 October 2024 | Manuscript Accepted on 15 November 2024 | Manuscript published on 30 November 2024 | PP: 1-6 | Volume-4 Issue-2 November 2024 | Retrieval Number: 100.1/ijae.E41360612523 | DOI: 10.54105/ijae.E4136.04021124

Open Access | Ethics and Policies | Cite | Zenodo | OJS | Indexing and Abstracting
© The Authors. Published by Lattice Science Publication (LSP). This is an open-access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Abstract: This research investigates the effect of rice husk ash (RHA) addition on the refractory properties of Owo clay. The clay is blended with RHA in increments of 5% for each experimental run. The blended material undergoes exposure to temperatures ranging from normal crucible liner conditions to 1200° C, followed by characterization for shrinkage, porosity, density, water absorption, and modulus of rupture. Results indicate that total shrinkage increases with RHA content throughout the experimental phase but stability was observed at 10% RHA. Porosity decreases with increasing RHA content, with the 10% RHA blend showing the most consistent decrease. RHA enhances compressive strength, reaching a peak of 24 N/mm² for 5% RHA at 1200°C, and a minimum of 10 N/mm² for 5% RHA at 900°C. Bulk density increases with decreasing porosity as temperature rises. Overall, the 90%-10% Owo clay-RHA Clay blend demonstrates the most suitable properties for industrial applications.

Keywords: Chemical Composition, Owo Clay, Physical Properties, Refractoriness, Rice Husk Ash (RHA).
Scope of the Article: Agricultural Biotechnology