Porcelain is a type of ceramics highly valued for its beauty and strength. The overall goal of this work is to utilize local raw materials within the following fractions: 37 wt.% kaolin, 35 wt.% feldspar and 28 wt.% quartz. This composition has been selected on the basis of the ternary phase diagrams (kaolin-feldspar-quartz). The densification behaviour indicated that specimens sintered at 1200 °C for 2 h with a heating rate of 5 °C/min, have a bulk density of about 2.50 g/cm³. This value is slightly higher than that reported for the conventional porcelain products (2.45 g/cm³). Porcelain specimens with and without calcination sintered at 1200 °C for 2 h have tensile strength values of about 45 and 73 MPa, respectively (equivalent flexural strength values of about 122 and 197 MPa, respectively). The flexural strength values of both specimens are much higher than those reported for conventional porcelains (ranged between 60 and 80 MPa). Furthermore, the value of micro-hardness of the fired samples without calcination at 1200 °C is 9.3 ± 0.2 GPa which is higher than the commercial porcelain products (5.5 GPa).

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The mechanical characteristics of the lightweight aggregate concretes (LWAC) strongly depend on the proportions of aggregates in the formulation. In particular, because of their strong porosity, the lightweight aggregates are much more deformable than the cementations matrix and their influence on concrete strength is complex. This paper focuses on studying the physical performance of concrete formulated with substitution of 30% of coarse aggregates by limestone dust. In this article an attempt is made to provide information on the elastic properties of lightweight concrete (LWC) from tests carried out under uniaxial compression conditions. The results of Young modulus, Poisson's ratio, and compressive and flexural tensile strength tests on concrete are presented. The concretes obtained present good mechanical performances reaching 34.99 MPa compressive strength, 6.39 MPa flexural tensile strength and in front of 36 MPa Young modulus.

A control lightweight concrete (LWC) mixture made with 50% and 100% of limestone as a replacement of coarse aggregates in weight was prepared. Limestone is used for economical and environmental concern. The concrete samples were cured at 65% relative humidity at 20 °C. The compressive and flexural tensile strengths, elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio of hardened concrete were measured. Laboratory compressive and tensile strength tests results showed that LWC can be produced by the use of limestone. The aim of this study is twofold: one is to design a lightweight concrete with the use of limestone that will provide an advantage of reduction in dead weight of a structure; and second is to obtain a more economical LWC mixture with the use of limestone. Keywords: lightweight aggregate concrete, limestone dust, flexural tensile strength, elastic modulus, compressive strength. Resumo

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