Characterization of Rice Husk Ash and Its Recycling as Quartz Substitute for the Production of Ceramic Glazes

In this work a complete characterization of rice husk ash (RHA)was conducted in order to evaluate mainly the composition andthe thermal reactivity in terms of crystalline phase evolution.Moreover, the screening results of the research conducted on thepossibility to use RHA as silica precursor in ceramic materials,such as ceramic glazes, were reported. The selected frits wereprepared in a semiindustrial furnace and the obtained glasseswere investigated in comparison with the frits prepared frompure quartz. Besides, laboratory glazes were obtained and characterizedfollowing the technical rules. This work allows to confirmthe possibility to use RHA as silica precursor for thedevelopment of glazes for ceramic tile. The results evidenced,however, that it is not possible for a generalized production substitutionof quartz with RHA.