Young’s modulus of heatproof tile ceramics Letovice during firing

Mechanical behavior of the heatproof stove tile ceramic material Letovice, which consists of kaolinitic clays and quartz, and small amount of mica, calcite and feldspar, was studied using the non-destructive sonic resonant method mf-TMA. To find actual dimensions and the volume mass of the sample, thermodilatometry and thermogravimetry were carried out in the same temperature regime (20–1100°C, 5°C/min) as mf-TMA. It was found that liberation of the physically bounded water from the green mass makes Young’s modulus higher. Dehydroxylation of phyllosilicates and the α → β transformation of quartz affect Young’s modulus to a lesser degree. The collapse of phyllosilicates structure above 900°C and the creation of mullite cause an increase in Young’s modulus.