Research of properties of kyshtym kaolin

In the research work, an attempt to identify the causes of unstable behavior of different samples of kyshtym kaolin during liquefaction was made. The chemical, phase composition and microstructure of kaolins of Kyshtymskoe and Glukhovetskoe deposits are investigated. It has been established that kaolin liquefaction ability is influenced both by the presence of smectite in kaolin and mainly by the degree of ordering of the kaolinite structure. A larger amount of kaolinite with a high-ordered structure ensures good kaolin liquefaction and stable properties of casting mixture based on them. Based on the conducted studies, the possibility of assessing the liquefaction ability of kaolin based on the results of X-ray phase analysis of its structure has been established.