Modelos de previsão de propriedades para revestimento cerâmico usando planejamento fatorial

Abstract

The search for improved physical and mechanical properties of ceramic tiles is an increasingly urgent need, facing increasing competition from the globalization of the economy. The design of experiments has been used more and more to model, simulate and obtain characteristics of interest in several areas of science. This work aimed at the development of mathematical models for predicting the properties of water absorption, linear shrinkage and flexural strength of the ceramic tiles using the factorial design of experiments. Samples of three clay deposits were collected, whose physical, chemical and mineralogical characterizations, showed that these are clay characteristics used in the industry of ceramic tiles. Then, based on the major variables of ceramic processing that directly influence the final quality of the ceramic tiles( formulation, particle size, pressing and firing conditions), mathematical models were developed for the prediction of properties of water absorption, linear shrinkage and of the flexural strength modulus. Mathematical models obtained for the prediction of absorption and shrinkage were considered satisfactory for they were able to describe the experimental data in the evaluated range and to the desired level of trust. However, the same has not happened to the model for the flexural strength that must be associated to peculiar characteristic of mechanical behavior of ceramic materials. This work has shown that the importance of characterization of experimental errors in a design of experiments and presents a proposal of procedures for the usage of factorial planning of experiments, specially in the modeling of mechanical behavior of ceramic materials.