Effects of Chemical Additives on the Production of Structural Brick for Construction Works
Keywords:
Clay, Water, Structural Bricks and Chemical AdditivesAbstract
Effects of chemical additives in the production of structural bricks was investigated. It aimed at discovering improved method of brick production at reduced rate in order to increase its usage/patronage in construction works. Clay, the major material is one of the natural resources available in the country in large quantities and the oldest building material with unique qualities was sourced locally. One industrial chemical additive known as KS770 and another local one known as soda ash (named eyin aro in Yoruba language) were used for production of samples of sun-dried (unfired) and oven burnt (fired) structural bricks in addition to a set of non chemical samples for comparison. The results obtained show that KS770 being concrete chemical plasticizer adversely increase clay moisture content, hence
can only be used at reduced quantity of water to yield higher compressive strength compared to non chemical one. Samples with soda ash prove to be a good plasticizer and water reducing agent with highest strength at lowest density.
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www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/bricks. Accessed October 15, 2009
