| Abstract: |
The production of bricks that can compete with common building bricksregarding physical and mechanical properties has been under focusedconsideration for more than two decades. The aim of the current research is toproduce high quality building bricks from by-pass cement dust, fine sand andsome additives. This brick precludes the environment from the risk of cement dustand fine sand, which accompanies movement of sand dunes in the desert areascausing problems of blocked roads as well as lack of vision and air pollution inthe surrounding areas. An experimental program has been conducted to optimizethe brick constituents and obtain the highest possible compressive strength, lowestpossible density, and absorption coefficient. Burning temperatures were 850, 900,and 950°C, for burning times of 6, IS, and 20 hours respectively. Specialadmixtures are used with different percentages ranging from 8 up to 18 wt. % ofthe total mix constituents. The results showed that most of the produced bricksachieved the Egyptian Code requirements regarding compressive strength, waterabsorption and bulk density. Results also indicated that longer burning times donot necessarily gave the best results, but in fact increasing the burning timeresulted in slight to moderate loss of the brick strength due to the relatively higherliquid phase formed at such long burning time. On the other hand, combiningrelatively high burning temperatures with relatively short burning times resultedin good quality bricks. An admixture percentage of about 12wt. % shows the bestresults regarding compressive strength, absorption coefficient and density.Keywords: Building bricks; by-pass cement dust, fine sand, burning temperature,burning time, brick production.
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