Mineralogical and Physicochemical Characterization of Clay in the Sangaré-Paul Locality (North Cameroon), in Order to Assess the Potential Use in the Field of Ceramics

The clay in the locality of Sangaré-Paul referred to as SP, has been the subject of a mineralogical and physical characterization in order to assess the potential use in the field of ceramics. Firing experiments were carried out on experimental briquettes at temperatures of 900°C, 1000°C and 1100°C after which physical tests and mineralogical analyzes were made on the cooked products. The results obtained from the mineralogical analyses show that the clay in the locality of Sangaré-Paul contains kaolinite, illite, quartz and feldspar, and when cooked, the presence of a new crystal phase is detected. From the granulometrical and physical tests, the material has a particle size spread with a plasticity index greater than 20%. Its activity is less than 0.75. It is kaolinite sandy clay with a low plasticity. The hydrogen potential (pH) measurement shows the weakly basic character of this clay. The technological parameters of experimental briquettes show that the percentage of water absorbed is less than 15%. The linear withdrawal of all experimental briquettes presents values less than or equal to 10%. The values of the mechanicals resistances of the briquettes increase globally with the temperature not exceeding 10 MPa for the bending, but reaching 38 MPa for the compression. All these parameters, except the linear withdrawal, present optima temperature at 1100°C. The clay material of Sangaré-Paul is suitable for the manufacture of bricks and tiles at 1100°C.