OXIDATION OF ORGANIC-MATTER IN POWDERED CLAYS AT TEMPERATURES LOWER THAN DEHYDROXYLATION TEMPERATURE OF CLAY-MINERALS

A system for studying the oxidation of organic matter in clays is desc ribed and results presented on oxidation experiments carried out at la w temperatures (300-450 degrees C) on a range of powdered clay raw mat erials. The results show that most of the organic matter in these mate rials can be eliminated by heating at temperatures lower than the dehy droxylation temperature for clay minerals. This indicates the possibil ity of improving clay raw materials by low temperature oxidation, with out adversely affecting the plastic properties required for shaping op erations, and thus permitting the use, without 'black core' formation, of the improved clays in fast firing cycles.