Design and Fabrication of a Sustainable Construction Brick

Abstract

The urgent need for affordable housing is driving the research for cheap and sustainable building materials. The nuisance caused by cocoa pod husks, which is an agro waste, could be curbed by the incorporation of potash derived from its ash into brick batch mix. These potash incorporated bricks tend to allow sintering at lower temperatures thus reducing production cost and hence making them cheaper. In this project, the SiO2 – Al2O3 – K2O ternary phase diagram was used to design three compositions for brick batches. Briquette samples for both compositionally designed batches and control batches were fabricated and fired. Hydration and water absorption tests were undertaken for the various samples to ascertain durability and response to moisture. Brick samples were also fabricated and fired at 500 °C and 600 °C respectively, with their water absorptivity and compressive strengths measured. The compressive and water absorption test results were higher for 500 °C than at 600 °C due to the black core effect.