Building bricks from lime-rich clays by firing and water curing

A proposed new technique in the industry of building bricks from calcareous clays was investigated. In this technique a combination of the firing treatment and then water curing was used. A further improvement can be achieved by the addition of a fine sand to the lime-rich clays. The specimens are first fired at 850 degrees C for one hour with a selected heating rate, then cured in tap water for 3, 7 14, 21, 28, 90, 780 and 270 days. The results show a good improvement of the compressive strength of the fired bricks on sand addition and/or water curing. The optimum duration in water curing which gives the good quality improved fired product for each sample and mix was determined.