Synthesis and characterization of glass fiber grade specimen using different source of kaolin

Abstract

There are many grade of glass that were available in the markets. Different grade of glass can be synthesized by using different sources of raw materials. In this project, glass fiber grade specimen was synthesis using dolomite, colemanite, limestone, silica and kaolin. In this study, two different sources of kaolin were used as a raw mineral ((i) Kaolin imported from China and (ii) Local kaolin from Kota Tinggi) together with the above minerals, Comparison between the used of different source of kaolin were investigated. Characterization done mainly divided into 3 part which are initial characterization of raw minerals, characterization of mixing powder and final characterization on glass samples. Initially, characterization were done by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), DTA/TG analysis, particle size distribution analysis and loss on ignition analysis. From the initial characterization, the mineral compositions were calculated so as to meet oxide specification of the glass fiber grade. Elemental analysis proved that kaolin imported from China contain dolomite mineral that will promote excess of fluxes and higher in loss on ignite. DTA/TG analysis demonstrates that kaolin imported from China has higher loss on ignition compare than local kaolin. The weight loss of local kaolin is 1.239mg and 1.447mg in kaolin imported from China is about 0.21mg weight loss different. The Characterization of the mixed powder indicates that the loss in mixture with kaolin imported from China was higher compare to mixture with local kaolin. The weight loss is about the same value with the weight loss in individual weight loss of kaolin. The weight loss showed about 0.23mg from DTA/TG results.Finally the glass fiber grade specimen were by using Vickers hardness test. Glass synthesized using kaolin imported from China has higher hardness value than the glass specimen using local kaolin. The average hardness value showed by glass using kaolin imported from China is 704.6HV but glass using local kaolin only showed 665.5HV. There is color variation in both glass sample can be physically observed that is glass synthesis by kaolin imported from China as mineral form green in color but local kaolin white in color. This is attributed to impurities element such as Fe2O3 element is higher in kaolin imported from China compare to local kaolin. Amount percentage of Fe2O3 element in kaolin imported from China is 0.586 wt% is higher compare to local kaolin that contain 0.494 wt%.