Properties and microstructure of sintered incinerator bottom ash

• Published in: Ceramics international Vol. 28; no. 8; pp. 881 - 886
• Main Authors: Bethanis, S, Cheeseman, C.R, Sollars, C.J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 2002; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: A. Sintering; Applied sciences; Building materials. Ceramics. Glasses; Ceramic industries; Ceramic processing; Chemical industry and chemicals; Diopside; Exact sciences and technology; Heavyclay products, whiteware; Incinerator bottom ash; Miscellaneous; Waste management; Waste reuse; Waste management; Incinerator bottom ash; Diopside; A. Sintering; Waste reuse; Ceramic processing; Incinerator; Sintering; Ash; Raw materials; Manufacturing; Mineral composition; Experimental study; Microstructure; Ceramic materials; Physical properties
• ISSN: 0272-8842; 1873-3956
• DOI: 10.1016/S0272-8842(02)00068-8

The fraction of incinerator bottom ash with a particle size less than 8 mm produced at a commercial municipal solid waste incinerator was wet milled, dried, compacted and sintered at a range of temperatures to form ceramic materials. The effects of milled ash particle size distribution, powder compaction pressure and sintering temperature were investigated, and the materials formed characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermal analysis (TG/DTA). The main minerals present in the milled ash were quartz (SiO 2) and calcite (CaCO 3). Sintered densities of materials produced from ash milled to 95% less than 27 μm increased from 1.38 to 2.63 g/cm 3 on increasing the sintering temperature from 1020 to 1080 °C. Firing above 1080 °C caused a rapid decrease in density and sample expansion. The principal crystalline phase present in the high-density material was diopside (CaMgSi 2O 6). This work shows that a significant fraction of incinerator bottom ash can be processed to form sintered materials with properties controlled by ash particle size distribution and sintering conditions.