DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH-ALUMINA CERAMICS FOR THE WATER FILTER INDUSTRY

Abstract

The purposes of this study were 1) to test the high-alumina ceramics and 2) to test the production of water filter from ceramic high-alumina type to meet the standards. There are two methods of conducting research: Step 1: the test of high-alumina ceramics for suitable water filter using 45 mixture samples of kaolin, alumina and dolomite with the firing temperature of 1200, 1225, 1250, 1275 and 1300 degrees Celsius respectively. Analysis of properties for water absorption, shrinkage and strength. Step 2: test the production of ceramic water filter from the qualifying ingredients, the suitable formula is formula 16 fired at 1225 degrees Celsius. The results showed that 1) percentage of water absorption after firing formula 7 with 1200 degrees Celsius, it has the highest water absorption values at 43.88% and formula 29 with 1300 degrees Celsius, it has the lowest water absorption value at 20.47%. The shrinkage after firing of formula 29 with 1300 degrees Celsius, it has the highest shrinkage values at 8.25 %.  The formula 36 with 1300 degrees Celsius, it has the highest shrinkage at 0.12%. The firing strength for formula 29 with 1300 degrees Celsius, it has the highest strengths at 472.54 kg/cm² and formula 36 with 1200 degrees Celsius, it has the lowest strength at 29.85 kg/cm² 2) Water filtration test, it was found that the three-layer filter was resistant to water pressure at 70kg/cm² without any damage. The water flow rate at 30 kg/cm² has mean value of 31.52 l/h, and the pH value of filtered water was 8.73. Total dissolved solid content was 141.4 mg/l Total hardness was calculated as calcium carbonate 75.6 mg/l. Chloride was calculated as chlorine 16.14 mg /l. Nitrate was calculated as nitrogen 0.12 mg/l. No-iron was found. Lead was found less than 0.01 mg/l. Coliforms was found more than 23 per 100 ml. E. coli was not found. Salmonella spp and S.aureus were not found.