Suitability of Itakpe Iron Ore Tailing in Kogi State for Glass Ceramic Production

Abstract

This paper detailed the production of glass ceramic from waste glass, kaolin, iron ore tailings waste and 
bentonite (binder). The methodology includes: collection, chemical analysis and slip production and 
compaction, sintering the batches to form glass ceramic 750 0C, mechanical property and microstructure 
analysis of the glass ceramic. Ternary phase diagram was used to determine the granulometric composition 
of 21 different mixtures with varying proportions. The waste glass, kaolin and iron ore tailing were analyzed 
for their chemical composition by X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF). The compact 21 samples were 
arranged in a kiln and sintered at a temperature of 750 0C with holding time of two hours each. The results 
showed 73 % of SiO2, kaolin has 54 % and iron ore tailing 65 %. The density of the sample 21 recorded the 
highest weight. The compressive strength of the sample 21 showed highest strength and this could be due 
to 20% tailing and 80% glass composition. Therefore, the potential for utilizing waste materials like soda
lime-silica glass, kaolin, and iron-rich phases in the production of advanced materials like glass-ceramics 
is justified.