[01] J. E. O. Ovri, Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo state, Nigeria. [02] C. Onuoha, Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo state, Nigeria.

Clays from Ibere and Awo-omama were characterized for electrical porcelain application. Test samples were made by varying the compositions of feldspar and quartz required to form mouldable plastic bodies with each clay. The following properties were determined: electrical resistivity, apparent porosity, water absorption and linear shrinkage. This characterization was carried out for both the locally made porcelains and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) (standard) porcelain. Results obtained showed that, for both clays, apparent porosity, water absorption and electrical resistivity increased with increase in the composition of the non-plastic materials (feldspar and quartz) while linear shrinkage decrease with increase in non-plastic materials. Also, for both clays, samples containing 50-70% clays, 20-30% feldspar and 10-20% quartz were found to yield results that compared well with results found in the literature as well as results obtained for PHCN (Standard) porcelain. It is therefore concluded that both clays are suitable for electrical porcelain application.

Porcelain, Characterization, Clay, Feldspar, Quartz, Electrical Resistivity

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