BAO Zhenhong, JIANG Weihui, MIAO Lifeng, Wei Hongbin, Wu Qian

(National Engineering Research Center for Domestic and Building Ceramics, Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, Jingdezhen 333001, Jiangxi, China)

Abstract：The mineral composition and microstructure of kaolins from Longyan, Lincang and Xingzi were studied by XRD, DTA-TG and FE-SEM. The results show that all the three kaolins contain a certain amount of halloysite. The halloysite content of Lincang kaolin is higher than that those of others. Longyan kaolin is constituted of halloysite, kaolinite and illite. The main mineral component of Lincang kaolin is halloysite. Xingzi kaolin is mainly composed of kaolinite. Xingzi kaolin has the highest crystallinity of the three. Longyan and Lincang kaolins have poor crystallinity. Longyan kaolin has the mixed structure of sheets and tubes. Lincang kaolin has the structure of short curly tubes. Xingzi kaolin is mainly of sheets in structure, and its crystal grain size is large.

Key words: kaolin; halloysite; crystallinity; tubular