Brick Powder Research Articles

Defluoridation of Groundwater Using Low-cost Adsorbents

Excessive fluoride in groundwater poses significant health risks to millions of people worldwide, necessitating effective and accessible defluoridation methods. This study investigates the use of column filtration for removing fluoride from groundwater. The study employs a systematic approach to evaluate the performance of different adsorbent materials in a fixed-bed column setup. Various materials were tested as adsorbents in column, including Brick powder, Neem leaf powder, Lime, Sawdust, and Vetiver. The research examines the effects of key operational parameters such as bed depth, flow rate, and initial fluoride concentration on the overall removal efficiency. Experiments were conducted using groundwater to assess the method's effectiveness. Results indicated that column filtration can effectively reduce fluoride concentrations to below the World Health Organization's recommended limit of 1.5 mg/L. This report contributes to the development of efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions for groundwater defluoridation. All adsorbents used were inexpensive materials, available easily in nature and locally at village or rural level. Some of the adsorbents were very effective in removal of fluoride ion and can be used as defluoridating agents but they impart color and turbidity to the groundwater. Among all the adsorbents used, Vetiver demonstrated higher removal efficiency of 78% followed up by limestone 77% removal but hindered by its precipitation. Sawdust and brick powder were also efficient up to a certain extent of 72% and 69% respectively in adsorbing fluoride ions. Neem leaves powder was found to be least effective in adsorbing showing about 50% removal efficiency.

Using acoustic emission to understand the early-age reaction and cracking evolution of alkali-activated slag-brick powder paste

Real-time monitoring and accurately understanding the continuous occurring psychical-chemical characterization during the hardening process of alkali-activated materials present a formidable challenge. In this study, the early-age reaction process of alkali-activated slag-waste brick powder paste (ASWP) was in-situ and continuous monitored by using acoustic emission (AE) system and temperature. A novel machine learning method was employed to categorize the evolution of AE signals into three distinct stages: reaction acceleration, reaction stabilization and volume shrinkage stage.During reaction acceleration stage (0-2h), the waste brick powder (WBP) increased AE counts rate (4000-7300 counts/h), with RT values exceeding 200μs, indicating the settlement of WBP. Additionally, WBP reduced the high r-value AE activity in volume shrinkage stage, effectively mitigated the drastic volume shrinkage, and delayed its occurrence time by approximately 4 hours. Semi-quantitative analyses of FTIR and TG-DTG indicate that WBP reduced gel phase formation in the early-age stage, decreasing the relative areas in Q2 site by 16% before 36 hours. However, WBP positively impacted ASWP hydration at long ages, increasing Q2 site d areas by 60%-100%. AE technique offers a new perspective for in-depth understanding of the reaction mechanism and microstructural development of alkali-activated materials in situ and continuously.

Enhanced Pozzolanic Activity of Crushed Brick Powder with Hydrated Lime: Concrete Durability Study

Enhanced Pozzolanic Activity of Crushed Brick Powder with Hydrated Lime: Concrete Durability Study

Study on Chloride Ion Penetration Performance of Recycled Composite Micro Powder Concrete under Freeze-Thaw Environment

With the increasing generation of construction waste, the rational utilization of recycled micro powder has become crucial for the efficient development of construction waste resource recycling. This study investigates the chloride ion penetration performance of Recycled Composite Micro Powder Concrete (RCMPC) under freeze-thaw conditions. By incorporating Recycled Concrete Powder (RCP) and Recycled Brick Powder (RBP) in a ratio of 2:8 to replace various proportions of cement, specimens with different water-to-binder ratios (0.35, 0.45, 0.55) were designed and subjected to freeze-thaw cycles (FTC), pore structure analysis, rapid chloride ion migration, and diffusion tests. The results indicate that the frost resistance of the concrete decreases with the addition of Recycled Composite Micro Powder (RCMP). As the RCMP content increases, the mass loss rate and relative dynamic modulus decline, while the thickness of the damage layer increases. Moreover, the chloride ion migration coefficient and diffusion coefficient exhibit a linear increase with the number of FTC, with specimens containing higher RCMP content showing poorer chloride ion penetration performance. Based on the experimental results, this paper establishes a chloride ion diffusion model for RCMPC considering freeze-thaw damage, which demonstrates good predictive capability for the chloride ion diffusion behavior of RCMPC in freeze-thaw environments, providing a theoretical basis for its application in cold and marine regions.

Using recycled brick powder in slag based geopolymer foam cured at ambient temperature: strength, thermal stability and microstructure

Using recycled brick powder in slag based geopolymer foam cured at ambient temperature: strength, thermal stability and microstructure

New insights into the effects of silicate modulus, alkali content and modification on multi-properties of recycled brick powder-based geopolymer

Utilizing recycled brick powder (RBP) as a green precursor to prepare alkali-activated RBP-based geopolymer (AABG) not only broadens the existing system of alkali-activated materials but also achieves the high-value and low-carbon utilization of clay brick waste. This paper aims to systematically investigate the influence of silicate modulus and alkali content of the alkali-activator on the multi-properties of AABG, while proposing multi-path modification methods to optimize AABG performance. Substituting an appropriate amount of metakaolin with RBP contributes to optimizing the performance of metakaolin-based geopolymers. However, the micro-macro properties of AABG are significantly inferior to those of metakaolin-based geopolymer. Under the same silicate modulus, the micro-macro properties of AABG first improve and then deteriorate with the increase in alkali content. With the alkali content of 8 %, the AABG owns the best microstructure and macro properties. When the alkali content remains constant, an appropriate increase in the silicate modulus of alkali-activator contributes to the performance enhancement of AABG mortar. The average pore diameter of AABG-1.2M-8%, AABG-1.4M-8%, and AABG-1.4M-4% paste is 69.4 nm, 61.8 nm and 111.9 nm. Overall, the AABG with 1.6M silicate modulus and 8 % alkali content shows good performance. For the multi-path modification methods of AABG, decreasing the w/b ratio of AABG can enhance its compressive strength and permeability resistance. Besides, increasing the curing temperature of AABG can optimize its micro-pore structure and macro-properties, achieving optimal performance at a curing temperature of 80 °C. Finally, mixing Ca(OH)2 into AABG promotes the formation of more C-A-S-H, thereby further enhancing the AABG performance. Optimizing the silicate modulus, alkaline content and modification methods, it is feasible to produce AABG with superior micro-macro properties.

Effect of metakaolin and lime addition on geopolymerization of construction and demolition waste.

Construction and demolition waste generates the largest amount of waste by volume, which threatens sustainable development and adversely affects the environment. These wastes contain a significant amount of aluminosilicates that have the potential to be used as building materials for value-added applications applicable to alternative construction materials. This study aims to synthesize geopolymers from brick powder using metakaolin/lime as additives and compare their physico-mechanical properties. The compressive strengths of the geopolymer products GP-1, GP-2, and GP-3 developed at 28days from brick powder and metakaolin/lime with the activator solution were found to be 8.35, 21.30, and 25.0MPa respectively, 2.55 and 2.99 times higher when metakaolin and lime were added. FTIR spectra and SEM-EDX micrographs of the reaction products showed structural changes and formation of aluminosilicate hydrate and calcium silicate hydrate gel with Al2O3/Na2O ratios of 0.75, 1.67, and 1.98 respectively. The reaction products containing SiO2/(SiO2 + Al2O3 + Fe2O3) ratios of 0.70 and 0.76 were found to be desirable. The geopolymer product GP-3 was found to have a higher bulk density and mechanical strength than those of GP-1 and GP-2. These products are found to be very hard, with potential applications in construction industries to conserve the environment.

Effect of Recycled Brick Powder on Corrosion of Reinforced Concrete under the Action of Chloride or Carbonation

Effect of Recycled Brick Powder on Corrosion of Reinforced Concrete under the Action of Chloride or Carbonation

Sustainable multi-story building design utilizing recycled marble and ceramic waste

This study explores the design of a multi-story structure utilizing recycled waste materials. Locally produced materials from recycled sources were used for making concrete and bricks. The design of a 10-story building was carried out using ETABS software. In the process, 10% of the cement in the concrete was replaced with waste marble powder (WMP), while the bricks were made by replacing 12% of clay with waste ceramic powder and 15% with waste brick powder. The materials were developed in a laboratory, adhering to ASTM standards, and their properties were input into the software for analysis and design. The results were compared to a structure made with traditional materials. The analysis showed that using recycled materials led to the conservation of 164 tons of cement and 475 cubic meters of fertile clay while maintaining the required stability standards as per building codes. The design also prevented the release of 148 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and reduced the energy demands associated with cement production. Additionally, the building utilizing waste materials was found to be Rs. 5.8 million more economical than one made with conventional materials.

Prediction of strength activity index using chemical and physical properties of pozzolans

Reductions in cement use have essential benefits in reducing the embodied energy in concrete and CO2 emissions. Hence, effective assessment of potential pozzolanic materials is highly desirable to facilitate usage as sustainable supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). However, assessment of pozzolanic reactivity using conventional experimental tests is typically time-consuming and expensive. Pozzolanic reactivity is mainly related to the chemical and physical characteristics of various pozzolans, such as amorphous silica and alumina contents and specific surface area. This study develops and presents an equation that can predict the strength activity index (SAI) as an indirect method for the assessment of potential pozzolans and their strength outcome using their chemical and physical properties. The development of a prediction equation not only saves time and resources but also helps with designing optimized and improved pozzolanic SCMs. The strength activity index (SAI) of seven different materials with varying pozzolanic properties was measured at an age of 90 days. The powdered test materials included pottery cull, brick powder, lightweight aggregate fines, glass powder, silica fume, dolostone, and Class C fly ash. In the second stage, correlation analyses were performed to find parameters (based on chemical and physical properties) that were highly correlated with SAI. An equation was then developed as a function of the chemical and physical properties of raw pozzolanic materials using an optimization tool. Consequently, an equation predicting SAI was derived which had a high degree of correlation (R = 0.972) with measured SAI.

Hydrothermal and mechanical performance of mortars containing waste brick powder

It is widely recognised that green building, environmental sustainability, and technical performance have recently become requirements in the field of civil engineering. For this reason, the new trend in research is to focus on the recycling and recovery of materials, even if some of them such as industrial waste are still underexplored. In this perspective, the main objective of this work is to study the influence of brick powder on the thermophysical and mechanical properties of mortars containing this type of waste, in different environments, and within the temperature range between ambient temperature and 50 °C. To this end, a number of mortar mixtures, in which cement was replaced by brick powder in different proportions, were studied and characterised according to technical standards in order to define the optimal substitution percentage. Three batches of samples were examined at different ages, i.e., 3, 7, 28, and 90 days. The samples of the first batch were kept in water at a temperature of 20 ± 2 °C with a relative humidity RH = 100 %, while those of the second batch were immersed and stored in water at 50 °C in order to simulate a hot and humid climate. As for the samples of the third batch, they were kept in a dry oven at 50 °C in order to investigate the effect of the hot and dry climate. The results obtained revealed that the partial replacement of cement by brick powder makes it possible to improve the thermal insulation characteristics but reduce the mechanical strength of the mortar. In addition, it was shown that in a hot and dry environment, the mechanical characteristics of the different mortars decrease as the rate of weight substitution of cement by brick powder rises. However, in a hot and humid environment, a reverse trend is observed. The findings also suggested that the optimal recommended rate of substitution of cement by brick powder is 20 %.

Fine-grained concrete with the addition of highly dispersed brick scrap powder

The use of brick breakage in concretes and in binder compositions is a promising direction for the development of recycling ceramic bricks. The purpose of the present research was to evaluate the possibility of using mineral powders obtained from brick breakage as an effective dispersed component in the production of fine-grained concrete. In the work, mechanical grinding of ceramic raw material was carried out at different grinding times. It wasestablished that for brick-breakage powders, an increase in the grinding time does not lead to a proportional increase in the specific surface area of the powders.The maximum effective increase in the specific surface area of the obtained powders is fixed at a grinding duration of up to 5 minutes. Using differential thermal analysis, it is shown that crushed brick is not an active mineral additive, but can act as crystallization centers during the formation of hydrosilicates in the structure of composites. Samples of fine-grained concrete were produced, in which part of the cement was replaced with ceramic powders obtained at different grinding duration. It was determined that the replacement of cement in concrete mixtures with this highly dispersed additive in an amount of 20% (by weight), obtained at an optimal grinding time in a ball mill, does not lead to a change in the physico-chemical characteristics of the final concrete composite.

Strategies for reusing multiple recycled powders: Evaluating the mechanical performance and sustainability of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC)

Engineering Cementitious Composites (ECC) are fibre-reinforced cementitious materials with excellent tensile strain capacity. Recycling powder from building and demolition waste can improve the ecological efficiency of concrete and reduce the cost of raw materials. In this study, recycled glass powder (RGP) was used to partially replace traditional cement. Based on using a 1:1 replacement of recycled brick powder (RBP) and recycled concrete powder (RCP) for fine aggregates, two sets of variables were set: the RGP substitution rate (10 %, 15 %, 20 %, and 25 %) and RGP particle-size range (38–75 μm, 75–150 μm, and 150–300 μm). Comprehensive material testing and mechanical experiments were conducted, including X-ray diffraction analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, shrinkage tests, uniaxial compressive tests, uniaxial tensile tests, and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that fully substituting quartz sand with RBP and RCP enhanced the ECC performance. Incorporating RGP significantly improved the ultimate tensile strain and crack-propagation ability of the ECC while reducing the 90-d shrinkage rate. The 28-d compressive strength and tensile strength have some loss, but can meet the strength requirements. SEM showed that incorporating RGP weakened the bonding strength of the fibre matrix, making it easier for the fibres to be pulled out. By evaluating the experimental results, the mix ratio of a 20 % substitution rate and 75–150-μm size was selected. A material-sustainability indicator (MSI) analysis of the raw materials and production process of RGP-ECC was performed. The embodied energy, carbon emissions, and economic indices were reduced to a certain extent, thereby improving the ecological efficiency of concrete.

Residual and damage properties of recycled brick powder-UHPFRC after high temperature

This research explores the impact of temperature, Recycled Brick Powder (RBP) replacement rates, and cooling methods on the mechanical characteristics of Ultra-high-performance fibre reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). Additionally, the material morphology and pore structure at elevated temperatures are thoroughly examined through Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and mercury intrusion (MIP) tests. The findings reveal a pattern in the behavior of residual compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and residual fracture energy as the target temperature increases. Initially, these properties increase and then decrease. Specifically, a threshold temperature of 400 °C is identified for compressive strength. For splitting tensile strength, threshold temperatures under natural cooling and water cooling are 400 °C and 200 °C, respectively. The threshold temperatures for residual fracture energy at substitution rates of 30%, 0%, and 50% with RBP are determined to be 400 °C, 200 °C, and 200 °C, respectively. when the RBP content is 30%, UHPFRC shows superior mechanical performance during the entire heating process. The performance under water cooling is weaker than that under natural cooling. Additionally, this study also proposed the evaluation and calculation models of residual compressive strength, residual splitting tensile strength and residual fracture energy considering the influence of simulated fire temperature.

Effects of high temperatures on the behavior of reactive powder concrete based on recycled brick powder

Effects of high temperatures on the behavior of reactive powder concrete based on recycled brick powder

Preparation and properties of alkali-activated fly ash-waste brick porous building materials

This study explores the development of sustainable porous building materials through the alkali-activation of fly ash and waste clay brick powder. Utilizing Class F fly ash and brick powder from demolished buildings, a series of alkali-activated mortars with varying brick powder replacements (0 % to 50 % by mass) were formulated and analyzed. The results reveal that a 10 % brick powder replacement optimizes the compressive strength, reaching 73 MPa at 28 days, attributed to enhanced nucleation and calcium-rich gel formation. However, higher brick content reduces strength due to the dilution of key reactive materials, with a 50 % replacement leading to a strength of 27 MPa. Porosity increases proportionally with brick content, achieving a maximum of 42 % at 50 % replacement, suggesting potential applications in insulation-centric scenarios. Microstructural analysis confirms the formation of a porous network and identifies the phase compositions and reaction products. This research demonstrates the potential of repurposing construction waste into efficient and environmentally friendly building materials, contributing to waste reduction and offering a greener alternative to traditional practices.

Exploring the Potential of Using Waste Clay Brick Powder in Geopolymer Applications: A Comprehensive Review

Exploring the Potential of Using Waste Clay Brick Powder in Geopolymer Applications: A Comprehensive Review

Development of geopolymer cold-bonded artificial aggregate for UHPC applications based on fresh packing density

Geopolymer cold-bonded aggregate (GCBA) is a new eco-friendly artificial aggregate manufactured by powder agglomeration. So far the scientific understanding of the powder particle packing within GCBA remains insufficient, which is theoretically crucial for enhancing its mechanical properties. In this study, a high-strength GCBA as the coarse aggregate for ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) applications was developed using a high dosage of waste brick powder, and a new concept on fresh packing density was innovatively proposed to reflect the actual packing state of the precursor powders within GCBA. The effects of fresh packing density on GCBA's physico-mechanical properties and microstructure were investigated. Results show that the GCBA with the highest fresh packing density had the highest bulk crushing strength over 40 MPa at a reaction degree of only 8.1 %, and the resulting UHPC with this GCBA exhibited an impressive unconfined compressive strength of 162.9 MPa. The increase in fresh packing density led to a significant increase in the hardened GCBA's strength and density, despite it causing a reduction in the GCBA's reaction degree. The microstructural densification of GCBA with higher fresh packing density was formed by closed-packing unreacted precursor powder particles and fewer cyclic-shaped gels, resulting in a significant reduction in the required dosage of activator solution and consequently a decrease in GCBA's cost. A guideline of mixture design for GCBA was finally proposed, which differed from traditional methods by optimizing fresh pellets' performance rather than hardened pellets' performance, promising to be a more economical and efficient avenue for improving GCBA performance.

Exploring flexural performance and abrasion resistance in recycled brick powder-based engineered geopolymer composites

BackgroundDue to growing global concerns regarding the management of construction waste, this study investigates the feasibility of creating engineered geopolymer composites by replacing traditional industrial by-products (slag) with construction waste, specifically recycled brick waste powder.ResultsPolyvinyl alcohol fibers were incorporated into the engineered geopolymer composite mixtures. The substitution of slag with recycled brick waste powder was carried out at varying percentages: 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100%, resulting in six different engineered geopolymer composite mixtures. The study evaluated the flexural strength, sorptivity, water absorption, and abrasion resistance of the engineered geopolymer composites, and also, microstructural characterization was conducted using scanning electron microscopy. The findings demonstrated that incorporating recycled brick waste powder into the engineered geopolymer composite mixes resulted in a decrease in flexural strength by 35.59% and a notable increase in midspan deflection by 339% when slag was replaced. Concurrently, there was a significant rise in water absorption and sorptivity by approximately 304 and 214%, respectively, when slag was entirely substituted with recycled brick waste powder. Conversely, abrasion resistance decreased, with the inclusion of recycled brick waste powder resulting in an 84% increase in volume change. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed active geopolymerization of recycled brick waste powder within the engineered geopolymer composite mixtures.ConclusionsThe results of this investigation demonstrate that it is feasible to produce engineered geopolymer composites using recycled brick waste powder instead of slag. The greater ductility and increased midspan deflection point to areas that require further optimization, even in spite of the observed decreases in flexural strength and abrasion resistance. The SEM examination reveals an active geopolymerization, highlighting the potential of recycled brick waste powder to produce environmentally friendly and sustainable construction materials. These results offer a good starting point for further studies that try to maximize the durability and performance of these composites.

Mechanical properties and durability evaluation of self-compacting mortars containing glass and brick powders

Mechanical properties and durability evaluation of self-compacting mortars containing glass and brick powders