Evaluating the Effect of Adding Steel Machining Chips on the Properties of Clay

Abstract: Steel machining waste known as chips is a kind of waste that can be returned to the process of raw material for steel fabrication or else be traded as co-product of other industrial activities. The reuse of this product is of great importance owing to the economic and environmental aspects. This work investigates the effect of steel machining chips as additive on the properties of clay. The physical properties of the clay and steel machining chips composite were determined. The clay sample was collected from a deposit in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria. It was cleaned, soaked, dried, crushed, sieved and then moulded to some definite shapes depending on the type of test carried out on the various clay samples. Compositions were prepared with additions of steel machining chips of 0, 5 and 10 wt.% in the clay sample. Particles size distribution was determined by sieving and sedimentation methods. The qualitative mineralogical phase identification was performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) in powder samples using an Analytical Empyrean, diffraction DY674. Results obtained showed that the linear shrinkage decreases with addition of steel machining chips from 2.40% to 2.28% and increases in the crushing strength from 256.41 kg/m2 to 394.74 kg/m2 without changing the other properties of the clay. This result proves the viability of using steel machining chips as additive to clay to enhance its engineering properties for advanced usage.