APPLICATION OF ZEOLITES OF YAKUTIA FOR OBTAINING GRANULR THERMAL INSULATION MATERIAL

The relevance of the study is related to the involvement of the zeolite-bearing rock of the Khonguruu deposit (Yakutia) into production of heat insulation material, which solves the problem of providing the regional construction industry with a large-tonnage raw material resource. The main goal of the research is to study the possibility of using the local raw material base of Yakutia for production of granular glass-ceramic foam and to study its properties. Objects: zeolite rock samples from the Honguruu deposit, laboratory samples of granular foam-glass ceramic. Methods. Chemical and mineralogical composition of the zeolite-bearing rock was investigated using an energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer Bruker S2 Ranger (Germany) and a DRON-6 diffractometer (Russia). The research used macro photography with a digital camera. The main properties of the samples were investigated in accordance with the methods of State Standards 9758-2012 and 7076-99. Results. The main rock-forming minerals of the studied rock are zeolites such as clinoptilolite and heulandite, which predetermines its high reactivity to interaction with alkalis. The intensification of the formation of hydrated alkaline silicates was achieved due to the use of the extrusion method for synthesis of foam-glass ceramic and consumption of sodium hydroxide was reduced by 1,8 times. Samples of granulated foam-glass ceramic of 10–20 mm fraction with a bulk density of 220 kg/m3, compressive strength in a cylinder of 1,5 MPa, effective thermal conductivity of 0,078 W/(m·oC) and volumetric water absorption of 6,2% were obtained. The use of the obtained material for road construction in difficult geocryological conditions of Yakutia is allowed by regulatory requirements. The proposed synthesis method is promising from the point of view of ensuring the construction of transport routes with granular heat insulation material from local zeolite-bearing rocks. Taking into account the colossal length of the territory of Yakutia, a significant economic effect in road construction can be achieved through the creation of mobile complexes for production of heat insulation material near construction sites.