UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

CLAY MINERAL INVESTIGATION

OF SEDIMENT IN THE NORTHERN

REGION OF SELANGOR

MOHD TAZUL AKMAL BIN MOHD TALIB

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of

Master of Art and Design

Faculty of Art and Design

February 2016

AUTHOR'S DECLARATION

I declare that the work in this thesis was carried out in accordance with the regulations

of Universiti Teknologi MARA. It is original and the result of my own work, unless

otherwise indicated or acknowledged as referenced work. This thesis has not been

submitted to any other academic institution or non-academic institution for any degree

or qualification.

I, hereby, acknowledge that I have been supplied with the Academic Rules and

Regulations for Post Graduate, Universiti Teknologi MARA, regulating the conduct

of my study and research.

Name of student

Student I.D No

Programme

Faculty

Thesis Title

Mohd Tazul Akmal Bin Mohd Talib

2013639266

Master of Art and Design

Faculty of Art and Design

Clay Mineral Investigation of Sediment in the Northern

Region of Selangor

Signature of student

Date February 2016

in

ABSTRACT

Clay is the main material for a traditional ceramic manufacturing and is an integral raw material for some refractories. Because of its special characteristic clay has becomes, an important commodity for the world. Ceramic manufacturing is one of the largest industries in Malaysia. This situation happen related with the amount of ceramic raw materials itself that supports the development of the industry. Moreover the contribution by artist and researcher is one of the factors of this improvement. The development of clay was enhanced by the ceramic production whether large or small scale industries. Through appropriate study in conducting research and development on clay will enable ceramic artist, academician and university students to embark new sources of clay for ceramic production. Sabak Bernam is one of the areas in Selangor that has abundant sources of clay which can be utilized for ceramics industries, small and big. Recently, the areas are currently active with ceramic craft entrepreneur program. The craftsmen have been using the clay; despite little understanding the properties and characteristics. It is important to do basic physical laboratory test to establish a data bank which can be utilize by the entrepreneur. The objective of this research is to study the physical properties of the local clay through shrinkage, water absorption, modulus of rapture and mineral content tests. The test data will be compared with Sayong clay data, as to determine the similarities and differences. Therefore, the clay study will go through the process of ceramic fabricating by press mould technique to determine the performance of the clay. The result of the development of clay from Sabak Bernam will enhance the ceramic craft production specifically in that area. Hence, the clay will be commercial such as the existing clay in Malaysia.

IV

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

CONFIRMATION BY PANEL OF EXAMINERS ii AUTHOR'S DECLARATION iii ABSTRACT iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v TABLE OF CONTENTS vi LIST OF TABLES ix LIST OF FIGURES x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS vii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Background Study 1

1.1.1 Malaysia Ceramic Craft 2 1.1.2 SabakBernam 4

1.2 Problem Statement 5 1.3 Aim of Study 6 1.4 Objective of Study 6 1.5 Research Question 7 1.6 Hypothesis 7 1.7 Significant of the Study 7 1.8 Scope of Study 8

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 9 2.1 Introduction 9 2.2 Clay 9

2.2.1 Clay Characteristic 11 2.2.2 Geologic of Clay 12 2.2.3 Particles size of Clay 13 2.2.4 Clay Classify 13

2.3 Drying Process 14 2.4 Firing 16 2.5 Physical Properties 17

2.5.1 Shrinkage 17 2.5.2 Modulus of Rapture 18 2.5.3 Water Absorption 18 2.5.4 Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)/ Energy-Dispersive X-ray

Spectroscopy (EDX) 19 2.6 Sayong Clay 20

2.6.1 Sayong Clay Process 21 2.7 References Research Study 24

vi

2.8 Selangor Mineralogy 25 2.9 Primary Study 28

2.9.1 Interview 29 2.9.1.1 V.N.Ramadas S/O Vengdasalam 29 2.9.1.2 Rozana Musa 30 2.9.1.3 Maamun Rusdi 30 2.9.1.4 Radzi Ismail 30 2.9.1.5 Ahmad Cukri 31 2.9.1.6 Mohammad Zakaria 31

2.9.2 Interview Result 31

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 34 3.1 Introduction 34

3.1.1 Phase One 35 3.1.2 Phase Two 36 3.1.3 Phase Three 37

3.2 Excavation Location and Process 3 8 3.2.1 Excavation Area 3 8 3.2.2 Machineries and Tool. 39 3.2.3 Excavation Processes and Technique. 41 3.3.2 Clay Process 44

3.3.2.1 Machine and Tools Used to Clay Process 44 3.3.2.2 Techniques and Process from Pure Clay to Raw Clay 46

3.4 Fabricating Process 51 3.4.1 Specimen Preparation 51 3.4.2 Specimen Mould Fabricating Process 54 3.4.3 Specimen Fabricating Process 56 3.4.4 Drying Process 57 3.4.5 Firing Process 58

3.5 Physical Test and Characterization 60 3.5.1 Shrinkage 60 3.5.3 Water absorption test 61 3.5.2 Modulus of Rapture 64 3.5.4 Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM)/ Energy-Dispersive X-ray

Spectroscopy (EDX) 66

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULT AND ANALYSIS 68 4.1 Overview 68

4.1.1 Excavation Area 69 4.2 The Clay of Sabak Bernam Body 69 4.3 Clay Body 70 4.4 Fabricating And Green Ware Phase 73 4.5 Fired Body 74

4.5.1 800°C Fired Specimens 75

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