Study of the causes of pathologies in ceramic pieces of the productive sector Supía-Caldas
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Abstract
The present article shows the methodology and results of an experimental process of identification and prevention of efflorescence in ceramic construction pieces built in Supía in the department of Caldas-Colombia, which manifests a number of pathologies. These were caused —according with bibliographic reports— by soluble salts of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and vanadium oxides presented in the raw material and finished parts [4]. A sample of raw materials and a series of molded and burned in industrial conditions test tubes were analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to determine the amount of sulfates, as well as the different metallic elements that may generate calcareous efflorescence such as calcium sulfate (Ca2SO4), potassium sulfate (K2SO4), magnesium sulfate (MgSO.sub.4), sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) and vanadium efflorescence due to an excess of vanadium oxide (vO2 ) excess in the sample; a water sample of industrial uses was also analyzed and, finally, a solution method for the identified pathologies was proposed.