Physicochemical properties of heat treated sale stone for ceramic industry

Traditional building stones may be defined as the rocks continuously and commonly used throughout the history of a given town or region. Sille stone bears volcanic and andesitic features, which are unique to the Sille region (Konya) and its surroundings. Sille was a historical and cultural settlement in the Neolithic Age. The high silica content of Sille stone is an important building material due to its easy workability and durability properties. The Sille stone, which is generally used as a floor and wall covering, has many artifacts ranging from the Ottoman and Seljuk periods to the present day. This work is aimed to determine the structural characteristics of Sille Stone, which still preserves its architectural value, and to reveal its potential of being used as an alternative material in the ceramic industry. For this purpose, chemical, physical and thermal properties of Sille Stone were determined in this investigation. The results indicate that the physical properties of Sille Stone are similar to industrial ceramic tiles, and it can be used as a ceramic material after a heat treatment or a surface coating application as this will prevent soluble salts from escaping that are contained in the porous structure and which can have harmful effects.