Characterization of Clayey Soils from Visconde Do Rio Branco for Fired Ceramic Bricks

Abstract

The production of conventional bricks for housing construction is worldwide carried out with either concrete or clay ceramics. In most municipalities in Brazil, bricks are produced from less expensive local clays and fired at temperatures as low as 600°C, normally using wood as fuel. Indeed, in many regions the direct use of natural clayey soils may be sufficient to fabricate bricks with properties complying with the norms. In the present work, three clayey soils from the municipal area of Visconde de Rio Branco, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, were characterized for their physical and chemical aspects as well as the main technological properties of ceramics fired at 700, 850 and 950°C using the different soils as precursor bodies. The results indicated that these soils are acceptable for clay ceramic fabrication but only one has the strength complying with the Brazilian norm for masonry brick fired at the investigated temperatures.