Frost resistance testing of structural ceramics by means of low-temperature dilatometry

This contribution addresses the correlations between the physical properties of structural ceramics and their effects on the frost resistance of such materials. With the aid of low-temperature dilatometry (LTD), the freeze-thaw durability behaviour of various structural ceramic products, including the causal relationship between water absorption (WA) and flexural strength, was investigated and documented for a ­series of ten freeze-thaw cycles (FTC). The findings indicate that the material suffers gradual microstructural damage, which, on arrival at a critical water absorption level in combination with insufficient structural strength, accumulates to induce frost damage.

1 Introduction

Time and again, ceramic products in outdoor applications suffer frost-induced damage despite standards-compliant product characteristics, successful frost resistance testing and correct installation. Due to the fact that pore water provenly only freezes at temperatures below -4.5° C, reliable certification of structural ceramic products in terms of frost resistance is presently not possible, or only conditionally so, on the basis of presently valid testing standards.

Roof tiles, masonry bricks, clinker bricks/blocks, split tiles, ceramic tiles and similar structural ceramic...

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