Effect of sintering temperature on the microstructure and mechanical behavior of porous ceramics made from clay and banana peel powder

Porous ceramics were prepared by a solid state process from a mixture of clay and 20 ​wt% banana peels (BPs). BPs were used as an eco-friendly pore-forming agent. Compacted pellets of the dry mixture were calcined at three sintering temperatures, 900, 1000, and 1100 ​°C, for 2 ​h. The effect of sintering temperature on the ceramic properties, such as apparent porosity and mechanical strength, was examined, and an increase in the sintering temperature from 900 to 1100 ​°C yielded porous ceramics with decreased porosity and increased mechanical strength. To obtain porous ceramics (40.2 ​vol% porosity) with sufficient indirect tensile strength (8 ​MPa), the optimum sintering temperature was determined to be 1100 ​°C. •Clay-based porous ceramic was prepared from clay/banana peel mixtures.•The influence of sintering temperature was evaluated.•The anorthoclase and mullite phases increased as sintering temperature was increased.•Higher sintering temperature (1100 ​°C) had a positive influence on tensile strength.•A good compromise between tensile strength and porosity was found at 1100 ​°C.