A three parameter weibull of flexural strength variation of porous sintered clay

Abstract

This study is aimed at characterizing and evaluating the flexural strength of porous sintered traditional clay using three- parameter Weibull p robability distribution. The as -received clay and the sintered clay were characterized using XRD, XRF, and FESEM. Clay with cassava starch were compacted and sintered at temperature 1300°C to obtain the porous samples. A m ultipoint BET analysis of the porous sintered clay was performed to determine the surface area, average pore size, pore size distribution and the adsorption/ desorption isotherm . Three - point bending strength of the sintered samples was determi ned. A Three -parameter Weibull probability distribution of the porous ceramics was conducted with Minitab 15 software . The range of the flexural strength of the porous samples was 13.53 -23.26MPa. Though, the threshold strength is lower compared to other e ngineering materials, the Weibull modulus is higher, which signifies greater reliability. FESEM morphology of the porous sintered clay shows a relative distribution of pores. The three- parameter Weibull distribution provides accurate reliability assessment of the porous sintered clay for application in a pressure driven membrane process.