Improvements in or relating to the utilization of waste mica for the manufacture of insulating bricks, slabs, tiles or the like

A process for manufacturing insulating bricks, slabs, or tiles consists in mixing pulverized preheated mica or micaceous minerals predominant in mica, with a binder such as clay, glass or gum, with the addition of a combustible organic matter, moulding the product, drying it and heating it to a temperature of 800 to 1200 DEG C., preferably from 900 DEG -1150 DEG C. The mica material may be heated to 600 DEG -850 DEG C. for up to 6 hours before mixing with the binder. Sawdust, rice husk, wood powder, coal, coke, charcoal, shredded paper, peat, rags, grass and jute may also be added to the mix. The binder which may be bentonite, glass, red clay, plastic clay, china clay, fire-clay, pipe clay, silt, sodium silicate, lime, calcined gypsum, dextrin, gum, starch molasses or shellac may be added in a proportion of 20 to 80 per cent based on the weight of the mica powder. In forming the bricks the constitutents are preferably mixed with water or an alcohol in a proportion of 30 to 75 per cent according ...