Effect of process parameters on characteristics and pore structure of foam ceramics prepared from granite sawing dust

Foam ceramics made from solid waste have recently attracted considerable interest because of their environmentally friendly and sustainable properties. This study examines the manufacturing of foam ceramics through the direct sintering of granite sawing dust. An orthogonal experimental design was employed to explore the impact of the foaming-agent content, sintering temperature, holding time, and moulding pressure on the characteristics of foam ceramics. The experimental and analytical results show that under the given conditions involving a foaming agent content of 0.8 wt%, a sintering temperature of 1200 °C, a holding time of 30 min and a moulding pressure of 5 MPa, the produced foam ceramics have excellent properties. These included a bulk density of 0.892 g/cm³, water absorption of 0.130 %, porosity of 59.67 %, high compressive strength of 10.721 MPa, and thermal conductivity of 0.247 W/(m·K). Analysis of the pore structure revealed that the samples had an evenly distributed and sealed pore structure, which effectively increased the porosity and bulk density. This study effectively demonstrates the viability of producing porous ceramics from granite sawing dust, presenting a green and economically sustainable method for waste management and the creation of high-functioning materials. These findings offer promising prospects for the greater implementation of granite waste in the construction sector.