Sustainable Geopolymer Bricks Manufacturing Using Rice Husk Ash: An Alternative to Fired Clay Bricks

Abstract

AbstractFired clay bricks and cement bricks are commonly used in the construction industry. However, the greenhouse gas emissions and high energy use involved in production of fired clay bricks and cement bricks favor the utilization of geopolymer bricks instead. A change to geopolymer bricks would significantly improve the present housing and agricultural biomass waste problems. Using agricultural biomass ash waste to create sustainable products is one alternative. Products that have been alkali-activated are said to be cost-efficient and sustainably produced and contain no Portland cement. In this chapter, geopolymer bricks were prepared with waste brick powder (passed through 300 μm sieve), rice husk ash, and alkaline solution (NaOH and Na2SiO3) with different percentages of precursors. Geopolymer bricks were tested for the bulk density, water absorption, wet compressive strength, and dry compressive strength. This study also deals with the sustainability analysis of geopolymer bricks. Geopolymer bricks achieved a desirable range of the compressive strength, and they technically showed promising results and met the standard specifications for bricks. By utilizing geopolymer bricks as an alternative for burnt bricks in buildings, this recycling technique can have positive environmental benefits.