A Study of the Chemical and Physical Characteristics of the Soils from the South of Piauí for Soil-Cement Brick Production

Abstract

Soil-cement bricks are good examples of environmentally friendly products. This brick is the combination of soil with compacted cement with no combustion in its production. In this work the physical chemical characteristics of the soil from Piaui for producing this material were investigated. Samples of the soil were collected in three potteries from the county of Bom Jesus and pH analysis were carried out, as well as the rate of organic matter, texture, particle density, limits of liquidity and plasticity rates. The results have shown that the soils have acid tones (pH 5,49 a 6,11), which can be neutralized by adding cement, and organic matter percentages up to 1%. The samples have shown predominantly clay-rich textures with adequate plasticity limits, however, values of liquidity limits and particle density above recommended. Altogether, these soils tend to present viability concerning soil-cement brick production, provided that corrections with additives are made in order to minimize this effect.