Clay Products (Bricks, Tiles,

Stoneware, Terracotta)

Dr Vishisht Bhaiya
Department of Civil Engineering
SVNIT
Email:- vishisht@amd.svnit.ac.in
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 Composition of Good Brick by weight

• Silica – (50% to 60%) – Prevents cracking and gives uniform shape

 Excess silica destroys cohesion and make it brittle

• Alumina - (20% to 30%) – Plasticity so that it can be moulded

 Excess alumina shrinks the brick during burning

• Lime – (Less than 5% finely powdered) – Prevents shrinkage

 Excess lime makes brick melt and hence losing its shape

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 • Iron oxide – (5% to 6%) - Helps in fusion of lime to sand

 Excess iron oxide make brick dark blue or blackish

• Magnesia – (2%) – Imparts yellow tint in brick

 Excess magnesia leads to decay of bricks

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 Ingredients that might harm bricks
Lime : When it is present in lumps, it absorbs moisture, swells and cause

disintegration of bricks.

Pebbles gravel and stones : Spoil appearance.

Alkalis : Cause efflorescence if come in contact with moisture.

Organic matter and vegetation.

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Classification of bricks

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 Brick as a construction material

1. Durability
2. Economical
3. Volume Strength ratio
4. Easily available
5. Light Weight

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 Qualities of a good brick
• Uniform in color, size and shape.

• Should be sound and compact.

• Should be free from cracks and other flaws such as air bubbles, stone nodules etc.
with sharp and square edges.

• Should not absorb more than 1 5 of their own weight of water when immersed in
water for 24 hours (15% to 20% of dry weight).

• The compressive strength of bricks should be in range of 15 to 35 MPa.

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 • The percentage of soluble salts (sulphates of calcium, magnesium, sodium and
potassium) should not exceed 2.5% in burnt bricks.
• Should not change in volume when wetted.
• Should neither be overburnt nor under-brunt.
• The thermal conductivity of bricks should be low as it is desirable that the building
built with them should be cool in summer and warm in winter.
• Should be sound proof
• Should be non-inflammable and incombustible.

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Preparation of brick

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 Material Preparation

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 Machine Moulding

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 Hand Moulding

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Setting
 Firing Process
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 Packaging
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 Bricks
• Brick in Construction
– Parts of a brick
 Types of Bricks

1. Sun-Dried or Unburnt Clay Bricks

2. Burnt Clay Bricks

3. Fireclay Bricks

4. Acid Resistant Bricks

5. Silicon Carbide Bricks

6. Concrete Bricks

7. Sand Lime or Calcium Silicate Bricks

8. Hollow Bricks
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 Tests On Bricks for Construction Purpose
Following tests are conducted on bricks to determine its suitability for construction work.
1.Absorption test
2.Crushing strength test
3.Hardness test
4.Shape and size
5.Soundness test
6.Structure of brick
7.Presence of soluble salts (Efflorescence Test)

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 Advantages of bricks
 Brick do not burn, buckle or melt.
 Brick do not rot and allow Termites to invade.
 Brick do not rust and corrode.
 Brick do not dent.
 Brick do not fade from the Sun's UV Rays.
 Brick do not be damaged by high winds, rain or hail.
 Brick do not require constant maintenance.
 Brick do not devalue.
 Brick do not limit your personal expression.
 Brick do not limit your design options.
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 Disadvantages of Brick Masonry
• Not as strong as other materials such as stone.
• Not as durable compared to stone. Warping and shrinkage is observed.
• Brick masonry needs plastering done to finish a project which can raise
construction costs.
• Brick absorbs water which will cause dampness and damage overtime.
• Less aesthetic appeal with brick as there is limited sizes and colors.

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Tiles
 Tiles
• Tiles are thin plates or elements used to cover surfaces like roofs,
floors, and walls
• Obtained from clay products like bricks but are thin

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 Tiles
• Tiles
 Provides better interior and exterior finishes
 Environment friendly
 Recycled materials
 Obtained in any shape and size

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 Tiles
• Types of Tiles

 Based on application

 Based on Materials and Manufacturing

 Based on Purpose

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 Tiles
• Types of Tiles
– Based on application
 Roofing tiles
– Mostly made of burnt clay products
 Flooring tiles
– Mostly ceramic materials
 Wall tiles
– Mostly ceramic materials
 Partition tiles
– Burt clay, glass, etc

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 Tiles
– Based on Materials and Manufacturing
• Ceramic tiles or non-porcelain tiles
– Mixture of clay and other materials
– Various types
» Earthenware tiles, Terracotta and
faience, Fully vitrified tiles, Glazed
tiles, Stoneware tiles
• Porcelain tiles
– Made from heavy or denser clay but has different
absorbing capacity and breaking strength
– More durable, design and color
– Good water absorption capacity
(<0.5%)
– Costlier
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 Tiles
• Types of Tiles
– Based on Purpose
• Common tiles
– Drain tiles
– Floor or paving tiles
– Roof tiles
» Allahabad tiles, Corrugated tiles, Mangalore tiles, Flemish tiles, etc
• Encaustic tiles
– Used for decorative purposes in floors, walls, ceilings and roofs

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 Tiles
• Characteristics of Good Tiles

 Free from cracks and bend

 Regular shape and size
 Sound, hard and durable
 Well burnt
 Should fit properly, when placed in position
 Posses uniform colour and texture
 Water absorption <15%
– Used for decorative purposes in floors, walls, ceilings and roofs

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Stone ware Pipes
 Stone ware Pipes

• Stone ware pipes

 Used to connect underground
drainage of municipal lines or
septic tank
 Manufactures from vitreous
clay or stone ware
 ~75% silica and 25%
alumina, iron oxide to
give colour
 Withstands internal pressure
of 1.5 kg/cm2 and buried
under ground up to 4.5 m
depth
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 Stone ware Pipes
• Stone ware pipes
 Size: up to 600mm diameter
and 60 cm to 90 cm length
 Must be free from fine cracks,
glisters
 Compulsory hydraulic testing at
manufacturing stage
 Resistant to corrosion for acids
and erosion for grits and high
velocities
 Minimum crushing strength:
1600 kg/cm2
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 Stone ware Pipes
• Stone ware pipes
 Advantages
• Cheap
• Resistant to corrosion and
abrasion
• Smooth
• Durable
 Disadvantages
• Bulk and heavy
• Difficult to handle, transport and laying
• Brittle and easy to damage
 Solution
• Manufacture in short length and diameter

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Terra cotta production
 Terra cotta production
• Terra + Cotta = Clay + Burnt = Burnt clay
 Used in ornamental part of building
 High quality clay having sufficient iron and alkaline matter
 Mixture of
 Powdered glass
 Pottery
 Fine sand
 Impervious, hard and cheap

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 Terra cotta production
• Manufacturing process
– Preparation of clay
– Moulding
– Drying
– Burning

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 Terra cotta production
• Uses
 Hollow blocks of terra cotta used for masonry
 Cornices and arches
 Statuettes
 Ornamental works
 Fire proof
• Casing of steel columns and beams
 Porous terra cotta
• Sound insulation

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 Terra cotta production
• Types
– Porous terra cotta
– Polished terra cotta

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 Terra cotta production
• Types
– Porous terra cotta
• Manufactured by mixing sawdust or finely fragmented cork in the clay
• Characteristics
 Light weight
 Resistant to weathering action
 Fire resistant
 Can be nailed and sawn
to various shapes
 Sound proof
 Poor strength
» Used for ornamental
works

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 Terra cotta production
• Types
– Polished terra cotta
• Highly glazed architectural terra cotta with relatively coarse body
• Also called as twice burnt terra cotta

First Burning (6500C)

Coaled with glazed solution

(Imparts texture and colour)

Dried and burnt at 12000C

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 Terra cotta production
• Types
– Polished terra cotta
• Hard, strong and durable
• Different colors
• Leak proof (water absorption < 12%)
• Easy cleaning
• Resistant to
– Chemical action
– Weathering action of
atmosphere
• Fire proof

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