Application of differently treated illite and illite clay samples for the development of ceramics

Abstract This study represents the results of investigations on the possible geopolymer formation of an alkali, mechanically and thermally (including hydrothermally) activated 2:1 layer silicate, namely, illite and illite clay, for low-temperature ceramic products. The main starting materials were Quaternary illite clay samples taken from the Apriki–Laza pit in Latvia. For the investigations, an intermediate composition of illite clay and separated illite were used. The following research methods for the treated illite and illite clay were used: the phase transition was analysed by differential thermal analysis, while the phase compositions, microstructures and structures were analysed by X…