Abstract

This paper is centered on the characterisation of calcined kaolinite kutigi clay, with the view of establishing its suitability as a reinforcing filler component for hybrid polymer composite production. The micro-structural properties that were analysed include the elemental composition, morphology and functional groups of the kaolinite kutigi clay sample. Clay sample was collected from kutigi deposit in Niger state. This was cleaned and beneficiated and reduced to a particle size of 75 µm. The beneficiated clay sample was calcined in a furnace at 500 oC for 2 h. The physicochemical property shows that it is a non-plastic kaolinite clay with low swelling- shrinking ratio. Result from the elemental composition analysis of the clay reveals that silicon (Si) and aluminium (Al) are present in appreciable amount. Further observation on this clay reveal that it has a pozolanic property, since the sum total of the weight concentration of Si, Al and Fe is ≥ to 70%. Upon calcination, there was decrease in the silicon content and increase in the aluminium content of the clay. This structural transformation caused by the calcination process changed the raw kaolinite clay sample into metakaolin. There were reduced OH group in the calcined clay due to dehydroxylation. The use of clay as a filler for hybrid polymer composite is to impact good strength through hardness, as well as to serve as a flame retardant.