Key Processes of Fired Brick Raw Material Processing: Mixing, Stirring and Aging Technology
In professional fired brick and tile manufacturing, raw material mixing, stirring and aging treatment are core pretreatment processes that directly determine brick raw material plasticity, molding performance and finished product quality. Standardized raw material processing procedures are essential for stable high-quality fired brick tile production.
The primary purpose of mixing and stirring in fired brick production is to achieve uniform integration of different raw materials and moisture. Even mixing eliminates raw material component differences, greatly improving the follow-up molding performance of brick blanks. Some advanced brick and tile production processes add a rolling and kneading procedure after mixing and stirring. This process not only further enhances raw material mixing uniformity but also crushes agglomerated materials, accurately controls raw material particle size distribution, and lays a solid foundation for high-quality blank molding.
Raw material aging treatment is an indispensable link to enhance the comprehensive performance of brick and tile raw materials. During the aging process, fully mixed raw materials undergo sufficient hydration reactions and ion exchange. Silicate minerals in the raw materials hydrolyze with water to produce cementitious substances, which significantly improve raw material plasticity, fluidity and adhesion. Meanwhile, redox reactions and microbial reproduction occur in the stacked raw materials, making the overall raw material softer and more uniform. After standard aging treatment, the surface of fired brick blanks is smooth and flat, effectively improving the finished product quality.
To complete high-precision raw material mixing and stirring, the brick and tile industry adopts a variety of professional processing equipment. Single and double-shaft mixers are the most basic and widely used equipment, relying on spiral blades to achieve continuous feeding, water adding, stirring and discharging of proportioned raw materials. For raw materials with poor quality and uneven particle size, wet pan mills are preferred, which integrate crushing and stirring functions to further optimize raw material fineness, though with the disadvantages of large volume and high power consumption.
In addition, disc screens, purifiers and stirring extruders are supporting core equipment for raw material pretreatment. Disc screens realize strong stirring and impurity removal of mud materials through cantilever stirring arms and scrapers, and can also perform steam thermal preparation. Purifiers specialize in mud material homogenization and impurity separation, while stirring extruders integrate mixing and kneading functions to comprehensively enhance raw material plasticity.
The aging warehouse is a special facility for raw material aging and storage in brick and tile factories. After crushing, proportioning and stirring, raw materials are sent to the aging warehouse for centralized storage and homogenization. To ensure the aging effect, the standard aging time shall be no less than 72 hours, and the aging temperature shall be kept above 10°C. Heating measures are required in winter to avoid insufficient hydration reaction caused by low temperature, ensuring stable raw material performance throughout the year.
FAQ
Q1: What is the purpose of aging treatment in fired brick raw material preparation?
A1: Aging treatment promotes full hydration, ion exchange and microbial modification of fired brick raw materials. It effectively improves raw material plasticity, fluidity and adhesion, eliminates internal stress of mud, and ensures smooth, crack-free molding of brick blanks.
Q2: What are the advantages of wet pan mill in fired brick production?
A2: The wet pan mill integrates raw material crushing and stirring functions. It optimizes raw material particle size distribution, improves mud uniformity and molding performance, and is more suitable for low-quality raw materials than ordinary mixers.
Q3: What are the standard aging parameters for fired brick and tile raw materials?
A3: The industry standard requires a minimum 72-hour aging period and a working temperature above 10°C. Constant-temperature aging guarantees stable plasticity and consistent blank quality in all seasons.
Q4: What equipment is used for homogenization and impurity removal of fired brick mud?
A4: Professional supporting equipment includes disc screens, mud purifiers and stirring extruders, which realize fine stirring, impurity removal, thermal preparation and mud homogenization for high-quality fired brick manufacturing.
