Effects of Sawdust Ash Activated with Calcium Carbide Waste on Engineering Properties of Igboora Burnt Laterite-Clay Bricks
1Alabi A.A. and 2Ige J.A
1,Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, Oyo – State.
2Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo – State
DOI: 10.36108/laujoces/6202.61.0131
Abstract
The need to encourage the use of waste materials as stabilizer in bricks production cannot be overemphasized due to high cost of cement or lime for production of stabilized bricks. This research studied the potential of using wastes like saw dust ash (SDA) with calcium carbide waste (CaC2) in stabilizing Igboora laterite-clay for burnt bricks production and its subsequent assessment for structural building bricks. Laterite-clay was treated with mixture of SDA at 0%, 4%, 8% and 12%, and CaC2 at 0%, 2%, 4% and 6% respectively. The compressive strength of the burnt bricks increased from 8.65 N/mm2 for untreated brick to a maximum value of 10.92 N/mm2 for 8%SDA+4% CaC2 treated burnt bricks. Treatment with waste mixtures above this content resulted in decreased strength. The water absorption of 16% for untreated burnt brick increased to a value of 18.9 % for 8%SDA+4% CaC2 treated burnt brick. Treatment with higher waste =mixture additions resulted in increased water absorption up to 19.5% for 12%SDA+6% CaC2 treated burnt brick. The result of Energy Dispersion X-ray Spectrometer showed the presence of calcium, silicate and aluminate as a cementitious compound in the 8%SDA+4% CaC2 treated burnt brick. The compressive strength value of 10.92 N/mm2 is greater than 10.3 N/mm2 which is the minimum value suitable for structural building bricks in grade negligible weather based on ASTM C62-99. Thus 8%SDA+4% CaC2 treated burnt brick from Igboora laterite-clay is recommended for structural building bricks in grade negligible weather.
Keywords: Burnt bricks, compressive strength, rice husk ash, saw dust ash, water absorption.