Utilization of Industrial Wastes in Production of Eco-friendly Bricks

¹ Research Scholar, Dept. of Civil & Structural Engineering, Annamalai University.
² Professor, Dept. of Civil & Structural Engineering, Annamalai University.

^* G. Padmanaban: ergpathu@gmail.com

Abstract

The purpose of this research is focused on an alternative for conventional bricks. The production of conventional bricks causes serious hazardous effect to the environment in the form of soil degradation and carbon dioxide emission mainly caused due to the burning process of conventional bricks ultimately leading to global warming. In this study, nine combinations of geopolymer bricks are cast with different molarities. The industrial wastes such as Fly ash and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag are used as binder. Fine river sand with a fineness modulus of 2.46 and clay with fineness modulus of 3.05 is used fine aggregate for making bricks. The size of geopolymer bricks is 225 mm x 110 mm x 75 mm. Alkaline solution is used as binder for geopolymer bricks and it is a combination of sodium hydroxide solution and sodium silicate solution. The compressive strength of geopolymer and conventional bricks are determined Based on Trial mixes, fly ash, GGBS of equal amount and sand, clay of equal amount combination with 3 Molarity concentration of Sodium hydroxide mix proportioned geopolymer brick is obtained a compressive strength of 14.45 N/mm2 which is suitable for construction work.