Abstract
The main goal of this work is to analyze the effect of wood waste on the physico-mechanical and microstructural properties of highly plastic and low admixture clay from the Astana deposit. Analysis of the primary components was carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). It was found that the clay contains a significant amount of silicon and aluminum elements, which ensure the formation of a dense structure after firing, as well as a moderate amount of flux oxides (CaO, MgO, K2O, Na2O), which facilitate sintering at firing temperatures of 950–1000°C. Wood waste is characterized by a fibrous and porous structure. It contributes to the formation of a fine-pored microstructure during firing and a decrease in the density of products. It was found that the addition of wood waste has a complex effect on the physico-mechanical properties of ceramics. When replacing 20% of the total mass of clay with wood waste, the compressive strength decreased from 15 to 8.9 MPa due to increased porosity, but frost resistance increased to 38 cycles with the addition of 15% wood particles. The most optimal results were obtained with a sawdust content of 10–15%, which achieved a balance between strength (11–14 MPa) and frost resistance (up to 38 cycles), ensuring a balance between density, strength and operational durability of the products. The proposed composition can be recommended for industrial implementation in the production of lightweight and energy-efficient ceramic wall products. The results obtained confirm the possibility of recycling wood waste as a secondary raw material and prove that it contributes to the development of environmentally sustainable technologies for building ceramics.