Eggshell and Walnut Shell in Unburnt Clay Blocks

Abstract

Agricultural residues/by-products have become a popular choice for the manufacturing of building materials due to their cost-effectiveness and environmental friendliness, making them a viable option for achieving sustainability in the construction sector. This study addresses the utilisation of two agro-wastes, i.e., eggshell and walnut shell, in the manufacture of unburnt clay blocks. The experiments were carried out on three series of samples in which first eggshell (10–50%) and walnut shell (5–20%) were incorporated individually and then combined (5% walnut, 10–30% eggshell) in the mixture to assess their influences on the physical and mechanical properties of the unburnt clay blocks. This study performed the following tests: Density, capillary water absorption, linear shrinkage, flexural and compressive strength. The results indicated that eggshell enhanced the strength relative to the control sample when the materials were employed individually, but walnut shell lowered it. Moreover, combining the two materials in the mixer reduced the strength of the samples even further. Nevertheless, the inclusion of the waste materials decreased the density, capillary water absorption coefficient and linear shrinkage of the samples. The findings indicate that eggshell has great potential for unburnt clay block manufacture. However, walnut shell integration needs further research.