Effect of temperature on the pozzolanic properties of Metakaolin produced from Iraqi kaolin clay

Abstract

The unavailability of coal powder ash, silica fume or other highly effective pozzolanic materials constituted an obstacle in reducing the cement content, especially in the mass concrete mixtures. Therefore, it was necessary to use the local alternative that can be used and converted into a highly effective pozzolanic material, which is the white kaolin clay, of which deposits and large quantities are available in the Dwekhla region in Iraq, by converting it into metakaolin. In this research, the necessary calcination temperature and calcination time were investigated in the laboratory to convert the kaolin clay material into metakaolin with pozzolanic activity. The results showed that the required calcination temperature is 700 °C and the calcination time at this temperature is one hour.