THE MUD ADDITIVES AND THEIR EFFECT ON THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF ADOBE BRICKS

Abstract

Adobe is one of the oldest building materials in use and abundantly found everywhere with affordable and reasonable cost. It is basically just dirt that has been moistened with water, sometimes with chopped straw or other fibers added for strength, and then allowed to dry in the desired shape. In addition to being simple and economic, adobe bricks are fireproof, durable, non-toxic, possess low sound transmission levels through walls and provide sufficient thermal mass to buildings. Adobe brick walls are load bearing structures, which can be used to build up to several stories high. Also, adobe bricks have ability to build vaults and domes. In addition to this, adobe bricks afford great flexibility in the design and construction process. They can be simply cut, reshaped and can easily be subjected to opening to be use for building’s services. Besides having, these advantages; they have some disadvantages too which can be summarized as follows; moderately low compressive strength, low tensile strength, low scratch resistance and low water resistance. To overcome these defects, additives should be added to the soil to improve its quality and increase its capability to stand against these defects. This paper provides an overview of the mud’s additives that are used in different regions of the world, and their enhancement to improve the soil stability, including mineral, Synthetic, vegetable and animal additives. The paper also includes an experimental study that examines the thermal conductivity of mud brick mixed with some additives (plant oil, ash, soap, and cow dung).