7th Call - Dr. Abu Yaya

Project Title: Development of Electro-Porcelain Composites from Local Raw Materials.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Abu Yaya (Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Ghana)

Email Address: ayaya@ug.edu.gh / abuy95@yahoo.com

Award Amount: GHC 25,000.00

Project Status: On-going

Summary:

Outdoor electrical applications are evolving and rapidly expanding and prompting a search for new materials with insulating properties. In order to sustain the sector, there is an increasing demand for electro-porcelain composites that exhibit those properties amenable for the electrical industry. However, the huge importation cost of this composite has resulted in a growing need to find alternatives from local raw materials. In Ghana, such raw materials can be found for preparing the various electro-porcelain composites. For example quartz is found in Akwatia, feldspar in Akyem-Akroso and kaolin in Nkroful, Assin -Fosu and Kumasi. Electro-porcelain will be formulated from these deposits and some properties of the formulated bodies will be explored in relation to workability, firing temperature, dielectric and bending strengths by making comparison with the imported ones in order to refine our electro-porcelains to meet international standards. We envisaged that these readily available raw materials in Ghana can be harnessed to produce the necessary electro-porcelain products for both local and international markets.