The use of local clay in the manufacture of honeycomb in catalitic convertor of automobile exhaust system

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JUNE, 2009
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Abstract
The study was aimed at investigating on how our local clay can be used in the manufacturing of honeycomb, in a catalytic convertor of automobile exhaust system. The viability of the clay fetched from Fosu a village in the central region of Ghana is ascertained using the various methods below. After series of initial processing techniques to get fine grain clay; it was then soaked and left at a prevailing temperature overnight until a workable consistency was achieved. The clay was then molded into cylindrical and rectangular dimensions of different series. The honeycombs were dried slowly in an open air for some hours at room temperature to prevent cracking. The physical and mechanical properties of the green ware and the bisque were determined using porosity, dry and fired shrinkage and compressive techniques. After these, the recommended honeycomb fired to 1150 0C had its porosity to be 30.5 % and it indicates an appreciable number of pores that could absorb water, since water and smoke are all fluids. Its average fired shrinkage is 14.0% and its average compressive strength is 7.86 KNmm-2. Other test samples fired at different temperatures also gave fired weights, shrinkages porosities and compressive strengths and even though these parameters were suitable,it was relised that they will not last longer .These results are important for researchers and engineers who would like to do further studies and go into mass production.
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A dessertation submitted to the Department of Physics in a partial fulfilment of the requirement of the Master of Science degree in Physics.
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