Application of waste based materials to enhance Physical-Mechanical-Properties in Fired Clay

Bricks: Converting Waste to Wealth for Construction industry.

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Development of eco-friendly fired clay bricks incorporated with waste material: Converting
Waste to Wealth for Construction industry.

Abstract:

Since the last decade, there is a large demand on building material industry owing to the increasing
population which is causing a chronic shortage of building materials. A large amount of non-
renewable resources is consumed by the construction industry throughout the world. Bricks have been
playing a significant role in building and construction for thousands of years. Despite the reliable
workability and accessibility, it is widely known that the production of fired clay brick has always
been a rather energy- and resource-intensive process.

The disposal of solid waste generated from local food shops and agricultural industries is another
serious problem that is faced by developing countries like India. The major quantities of wastes
generated from such sources are eggshell waste, sugarcane bagasse, rice husk, fly ash, etc. Reuse of
these wastes as a sustainable construction material appears to be viable solution not only to pollution
problem but also to the problem of the land-filling and high cost of building materials. There is great
impetus nowadays towards recycling industrial wastes as alternative raw materials to
improve the properties of construction materials.

This experimental study investigates the potential use of such waste such as Egg shell, fly ash , rice
husk and saw dust for producing a low-cost and light weight composite brick as a building material.
These alternative bricks were made with various proportions designed. Using these waste for
manufacturing the bricks will offer a way to turn “trash” into inexpensive houses that are quite strong,
well-insulated and easily built. This work aims at performing an assessment of Physical-Mechanical-
Properties of burnt clay bricks and bricks made of industrial and agro wastes used for manufacturing
low cost bricks with good performance parameters. The wide application of such sustainable material
in construction industry can guarantee the sustainability of construction materials and promote
prosperity worldwide.

Working principal:

Recycling and utilization of industrial/agricultural wastes is regarded as an

environmentally friendly approach and a potential research area to reduce the negative
effects of waste in our environment. Though recycling of industrial wastes as alternative raw
materials is not new but it is intended to prevent exhaustion of non-renewable resources and
improve the population health through proper and effective wastes.  Furthermore, some
waste materials have a similar chemical composition as natural raw materials used in bricks
manufacturing industries.
Application of Model:

The objective of this work was to make fire clay bricks from earthenware clay mixed with various
wastes generated at markets / industry. The obtained fired clay bricks which have good physical,
mechanical, and thermal properties, lightweight, and low water absorption. However, both economic
and environmental problems during process need to concern on energy consuming, pollution, cost of
production, and raw material sources. Therefore, one of the best ways of saving energy consumption
and reducing eggshell waste is applied eggshell as a CaCO3 filler and flux in clay bricks.

Important Design aspect

i) Use of waste materials .1)Egg shell 2) Fly ash 3) Rice husk 4)Saw Dust
ii) Reducing earth / soil use
iii) Checking important performance characteristics i.e. Compressive strength, water adsorption ,
efflorescence
iv) Checking feasibility for various construction purpose