A Review on Use of Crushed Brick Powder as a Supplementary Cementitious Material

Abstract

In India, it is estimated that 250 billion bricks are produced annually in about 100,000 kilns present all over the country. Mainly due to inefficient production processes, most of the blocks manufactured are of inferior quality, which ultimately becomes a significant source of waste production. The characteristics of Construction and Demolition wastes (C&D) are difficult to predict, but a considerable component of this type of solid waste comprises of bricks in masonry work. As more and more civil structures are nearing the end of their expected lifespan, proper management and disposal of C&D wastes are necessary to obtain a sustainable environment. Ground waste clay brick is a prospective pozzolanic material due to dehydroxylation of clay minerals during its manufacturing process at temperatures between 450°C and 700°C, leading to the disintegration of crystalline phases and formation of reactive anhydrous amorphous phases. A review of the existing literature regarding the use of crushed brick powder (CBP) from waste bricks as well as demolition debris as a supplementary cementitious material has been conducted. It has been observed that the pozzolanic character of clay used for making brick comes from calcining it at an optimum temperature, which is different for different clays. Cement replacement by CBP in concrete mostly causes increased compressive, flexural, and split – tensile strength at 28 and 90 days, indicating good pozzolanic behaviour. 10 – 25% replacement by CBP gives acceptable values of Strength Activity Index (SAI) at 7 and 28 days. Pore refinement causing the formation of additional hydration products due to pozzolanic reaction as well as filler effect of CBP are the primary factors causing improved durability of concrete. Limited research has been done on the effect of the chemical composition of raw clay on the pozzolanic potential of CBP. Future scope in this area can be on enhancement of pozzolanicity in CBP, the study of high volume replacement of CBP in concrete, and the effect of CBP replacement on corrosion of rebar.