Technical Feasibility for Resource Efficient Bricks (Extruded Blocks)

Preliminary Case Study – Punjab state North India

Dr. KGK Warrier

Participants:

Punjab State Council for Science & TechnologyTERINational Institute for Interdisciplinary Science & Technology (NIIST)-Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), Trivandrum.

December 2010 – March 2011

National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science & Technology (NIIST)- Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), Trivandrum.

Clay is one of the most common raw materials for production of building components and modernisation of the manufacturing process through mechanisation, energy and raw material conservation and also introducing new designs are being attempted on a wide scale.

Raw material characterisation and modification play key role in designing the right processing equipments and also the process parameters. The quality of the products depend largely on the raw material preparation.

Preliminary results of investigation on seven clay samples identified by NIIST and collected jointly by PSCST and TERI from Punjab Region of North India are presented here. The conventional method of manufacture of solid bricks in this region is by hand molding, drying and firing.

The present attempt is to see the feasibility of a few representative clay samples collected from this region for extruded blocks or Resource Efficient Bricks (REB). The total project is carried out by NIIST-CSIR jointly with PSCST and TERI.

Details of clay samples

Sample 1 : GhaziabadSample 2 : Derabassi -1Sample 3 : Derabassi -2Sample 4 : Ludhiana -1 Sample 5 : Ludhiana -2Sample 6 : Jalandhar-1 Sample 7 : Jalandhar -2

Details of Tests carried out

1. Sieve Analysis for particle size distribution2. Pfefferkorn Plasticity Index3. Loss on ignition4. Shaping by extrusion – laboratory extruder5. Firing 6. Evaluation of the properties- water absorption, strength etc.

Specifications laid down in Indian Standards for extruded blocks

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Sieve Analysis of Clay samples

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X-ray Analysis of Clay

Conclusions from the preliminary evaluation

1.The clays selected for evaluation have particle size distribution, 60-70% less than 45 microns.2.The clays have plasticity index between 20-28, and is just reasonable. 3.The clays in general contain high silica content and hence requires >1000oC firing4.Total Shrinkage is within limits <10%. An expansion of 2-3% is seen in all clays when fired in the range 600-800oC. Bentonite clay is present as an impurity. 5.The fired colour is brick red and is quite acceptable 6.Suitable blending and mixing is recommended for improvement in properties.