METHOD OF PRODUCING CERAMIC PROPPANT (VERSIONS) Russian patent published in 2016 - IPC C09K8/80 C04B35/622 E21B43/267 

FIELD: technological processes.

SUBSTANCE: method of producing a ceramic proppant involves grinding a mixture, granulating mixture and firing said mixture. Mixture used is natural high-silica sand in amount of 30–50 % of weight of mixture, magnesia-containing raw material in an amount of 50–70 % and low-melting montmorillonite clay 1–10 % or a mixture of montmorillonite and hydromica clay 1–10 % with content in mixture of hydromica clay in amount of 0 to 100 %. Prior to grinding mixture, method includes additional heat treatment of high-silica sand at temperature not lower 900 °C.

EFFECT: invention is aimed at production of a ceramic proppant with high performance characteristics and low cost of production, which is relevant for mass production due to usage of disperse mechanism for reinforcing ceramics by additional use of low-melting montmorillonite clay with low sintering temperature.

4 cl, 2 tbl