Low Absorption Research Articles

Internal Curing of Concrete Pavements and Overlays

Internal curing is an innovative technology to improve the mechanical properties and performance of concrete. The internal water was supplied by fine saturated lightweight aggregate particles (LWA) in this study. The LWA was used to replace a portion of the conventional fine aggregate in the mixture. An internal curing effect has also been observed when comparing concrete made with low and moderate absorption coarse aggregate. Because concrete pavements have large surface to volume ratios and are exposed to the environment, it is particularly difficult to achieve proper curing. However, proper curing of pavements is important because it reduces early age cracking tendencies and shrinkage and improves concrete fatigue strength. Cracking risk also influences the joint saw cutting window. These considerations are also valid, and probably more important, for thin overlays, whether bonded concrete or ultra-thin/ thin whitetopping overlays. Internal curing is a tool that can increase strength and reduce cracking tendency of concrete, under some circumstances. Splitting tensile and flexural strength are increased, without a corresponding increase in modulus of elasticity.

Cola beverage reduces risk of lead poisoning from accidental ingestion of contaminated soil particles in rat and swine models

Accidental ingestion of lead (Pb)-contaminated soils represents a major route of Pb exposure for both adults and children, and the development of accessible and cost-effective solutions to reduce Pb poisoning is urgently required. Here, we present an effective and straightforward technique, involving the consumption of cola beverages, for the purpose of lowering blood Pb levels following the ingestion of contaminated soils in animal models. This method facilitated the direct passage of Pb in contaminated soil through the digestive system, enhancing its elimination without absorption into systemic circulation. Our results demonstrated that cola effectively reduced Pb bioaccessibility in 22 contaminated soils by 32.6%–98.8%. In male rats and swine exposed to Pb-contaminated soils, cola treatment decreased blood Pb concentrations by 32.9%–96.0% and 31.5%–81.5%, respectively. This cola-induced reduction in Pb bioaccessibility and bioavailability was attributed to the rich phosphoric acid content in cola, which promoted the formation of insoluble Pb phosphate precipitate (pyromorphite [Pb5(PO4)3Cl]) during the gastric phase. The precipitate was directly excreted in feces, resulting in lower Pb absorption in the blood. These findings suggest that the consumption of cola beverages may be a practical strategy to mitigate the risk of Pb poisoning following the accidental ingestion of contaminated soils. However, the applicability of this approach in humans remains uncertain in the absence of population-based studies. While these findings underscore the potential for cola beverages to reduce Pb absorption following soil ingestion in animal models, further research is necessary to evaluate its safety, efficacy, and possible risks in humans before any such protocols are initiated.

Intestinal distension induced by luminal D-allulose promotes GLP-1 secretion in male rats.

The secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is promoted by various nutrients, and glucose and fructose stimulate GLP-1 secretion via intracellular metabolism. D-Allulose (allulose), a non-metabolizable epimer of D-fructose, is also effective in stimulating GLP-1 secretion, although its underlying mechanism remains unclear. We previously observed intestinal distension after the oral administration of allulose, accompanied by increased GLP-1 secretion in rats, possibly because of the low or slow absorbability of allulose. In this study, we sought to determine whether intestinal distension caused by allulose and other factors gives rise to GLP-1 secretion in rats. We found that the oral co-administration of carbonated water enhanced allulose-induced GLP-1 secretion. Polyethylene glycol 1000 and D-mannitol, which are water-soluble and poorly absorbable, stimulated GLP-1 secretion. However, cellulose (insoluble), and tetra ethylene glycol (water-soluble and absorbable) did not. The secretion of GLP-1 increased as the absolute amount of allulose increased, independent of the concentration. The extent of the GLP-1 secretory response was positively correlated with the intestinal content volume and diameter after allulose administration. Furthermore, the intra-ileal administration of air expanded the intestine-induced secretion of GLP-1. Our results demonstrate that allulose promotes GLP-1 secretion, at least in part, via intestinal distension as a novel GLP-1 secretory mechanism. Physical stimulation may also contribute to the postprandial GLP-1 secretion.

Self-starting Cr2+:ZnSe femtosecond laser with 200 nm continuous tuning and 96.5 nm bandwidth at 2.2 µm

High-resolution optical diagnostics in the short wavelength infrared (SWIR II) region have gained significant attention in medical research, showing great potential for tissue spectroscopy and visualization due to the region’s low water absorption and scattering coefficients. However, high-beam-quality sources covering an entire spectral range are limited. This paper presents the development of a femtosecond Cr2+:ZnSe laser with a 2.2 µm center wavelength, a pulse duration of 60 fs, a spectral width of 96.5 nm, and an energy of 4.5 nJ. The resulting source is expected to enable spectroscopy and the optical coherence tomography system for diagnosing collagen-rich tissues.

Integration of Motion and Stillness: A Paradigm Shift in Constructing Nearly Planar NIR-II AIEgen with Ultrahigh Molar Absorptivity and Photothermal Effect for Multimodal Phototheranostics.

The two contradictory entities in nature often follow the principle of unity of opposites, leading to optimal overall performance. Particularly, aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) with donor-acceptor (D-A) structures exhibit tunable optical properties and versatile functionalities, offering significant potential to revolutionize cancer treatment. However, trapped by low molar absorptivity (ε) owing to the distorted configurations, the ceilings of their photon-harvesting capability and the corresponding phototheranostic performance still fall short. Therefore, a research paradigm from twisted configuration to near-planar structure featuring a high ε is urgently needed for AIEgens development. Herein, by introducing the strategy of "motion and stillness" into a highly planar A-D-A skeleton, we successfully developed a near-infrared (NIR)-II AIEgen of Y5-2BO-2BTF, which boasts an impressive ε of 1.06 × 105 M-1 cm-1 and a photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE) of 77.8%. The modification of steric hindrance on the benzene ring in the acceptor unit of the aggregation-caused quenching counterpart Y5-2BO, to a meta-CF3-substituted naphthyl, leads to reversely staggered packing and various intermolecular noncovalent conformational locks in Y5-2BO-2BTF ("stillness"). Furthermore, the -CF3 moiety acted as a flexible motion unit with an ultralow energy barrier, significantly facilitating the photothermal process in loose Y5-2BO-2BTF aggregates ("motion"). Accordingly, Y5-2BO-2BTF nanoparticles enabled tumor eradication and pulmonary metastasis inhibition through NIR-II fluorescence-photoacoustic-photothermal imaging-navigated type I photodynamic-photothermal therapy. This work provides the first evidence that the highly planar conformation with a reversely staggered stacking arrangement could serve as a novel molecular design direction for AIEgens, shedding new light on constructing superior phototheranostic agents for bioimaging and cancer therapy.

Sacrificial Layer for Sintering Enhancements of Ceramic, Semiconductor, and Metal Films: A Universal Strategy.

The manufacturing of thin films through selective laser sintering of micro/nanoparticles is an emerging technology that has been developing rapidly over the last two decades owing to its digitization, efficiency, and good adaptability to various materials. However, high-quality laser sintering of different materials remains a challenge: ceramic particles are difficult to be sintered due to low absorbance; metallic particles are prone to oxidation; semiconductor particles are difficult to process for performance enhancement due to high stress. In this work, a new approach is proposed that employs an additional Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) sacrificial layer to assist laser sintering of different functional materials, which detaches after sintering without contaminating the target material. As a laser absorber, the ITO layer can raise the sintering temperature up to 2950 K, resulting in well coarsening of ceramic grains. As an oxygen barrier, the ITO layer maintains the oxidation level of the metal die below 25%. As a temperature homogenizer, the ITO layer delays the cracking and improves the performance of the semiconductor material, which in turn increases its Seebeck factor to 1.4-fold. Therefore, the ITO sacrificial layer is a material-friendly, purity-neutral laser sintering strategy, which supports laser sintering of multi-materials and high-performance thin-film devices.

Design, evaluation, and in vitro-in vivo correlation of self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems to improve the oral absorption of exenatide.

The ability to predict the absorption of exenatide (Ex), a GLP-1 analogue, after oral dosing to rats in self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS), using in vitro methods, was assessed. Ex was complexed with soybean phosphatidylcholine (SPC) prior to loading into SNEDDS. A design of experiments (DoE) approach was employed to develop SNEDDS incorporating medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), medium-chain mono- and diglycerides (MGDG), Kolliphor® RH40, and monoacyl phosphatidylcholine. SNEDDS with higher proportions of MGDG and Kolliphor® RH40 demonstrated a 9-fold reduction in droplet size (230 to 26 nm), a 1.5-fold decrease in lipolysis (0.23 to 0.34 mmol of FFA), and a 2-fold enhancement in exenatide protection against proteolysis (73 % to 38 %) compared to those with higher MCT content. Permeability studies in Caco-2 cells showed that SNEDDS with higher proportion of MGDG displayed a 40-fold increase in apparent permeability of FD4, when compared to SNEDDS with higher proportion of MCT. An oral gavage study in rats revealed a 1.8-fold higher absorption of Ex in SNEDDS with a higher proportion of MGDG and Kolliphor®RH40 compared to SNEDDS with higher MCT. These results establish a clear in vitro-in vivo correlation, demonstrating that the selected in vitro methods effectively differentiated formulations with high and low absorption of exenatide after oral dosing in rats.

Photocurrent Generation by Plant Light-Harvesting Complexes is Enhanced by Lipid-Linked Chromophores in a Self-Assembled Lipid Membrane.

The light-harvesting pigment-protein complex II (LHCII) from plants can be used as a component for biohybrid photovoltaic devices, acting as a photosensitizer to increase the photocurrent generated when devices are illuminated with sunlight. LHCII is effective at photon absorption in the red and blue regions of the visible spectrum, however, it has low absorption in the green region (550-650 nm). Previous studies have shown that synthetic chromophores can be used to fill this spectral gap and transfer additional energy to LHCII, but it was uncertain whether this would translate into an improved performance for photovoltaics. In this study, we demonstrate amplified photocurrent generation from LHCII under green light illumination by coupling this protein to Texas Red (TR) chromophores that are coassembled into a lipid bilayer deposited onto electrodes. Absorption spectroscopy shows that LHCII and lipid-linked TR are successfully incorporated into lipid membranes and maintained on electrode surfaces. Photocurrent action spectra show that the increased absorption due to TR directly translates into a significant increase of photocurrent output from LHCII. However, the absolute magnitude of the photocurrent appears to be limited by the lipid bilayer acting as an insulator and the TR enhancement effect reaches a maximum due to protein, lipid or substrate-related quenching effects. Future work should be performed to optimize the use of extrinsic chromophores within novel biophotovoltaic devices.

Could New Palm-Free Structured Lipids Mitigate Postprandial Hyperlipidemia and Inflammation Induced by High-Fat Meals in Swiss Mice?

A high-fat meal can cause postprandial hyperlipemia, initiating an acute inflammatory response. New structured lipids (SLs) free from trans and palm fatty acids are emerging as food structurants. Objective: We evaluated the postprandial response and inflammatory profiles in Swiss mice after oral administration of SLs in high-fat meals. Methods: SLs with different contents of long-chain saturated fatty acids were synthesized through an interesterification process involving soybean, peanut oils and crambe hard fat. Results: SLs containing 23.79% (SL1), 32.01% (SL2), and 43.87% (SL3) of total saturated fatty acids reduced the absorption of serum triglycerides and appeared to mitigate postprandial inflammation by interleukin-6. A faster gastric emptying rate after consuming SL3 was corroborated by the fecal presence of behenic acid. Conclusions: Our results suggest that SLs, free from palm and trans fats, may have the potential to mitigate inflammation, reduce the postprandial response, and lower absorption upon acute consumption.

Phytosome-Enhanced Secondary Metabolites for Improved Anticancer Efficacy: Mechanisms and Bioavailability Review.

Phytosome technology, an advanced lipid-based delivery system, offers a promising solution for enhancing the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of secondary metabolites, particularly in cancer treatment. These metabolites, such as flavonoids, terpenoids, and alkaloids, possess significant anticancer potential but are often limited by poor solubility and low absorption. This review aims to investigate how phytosome encapsulation improves the pharmacokinetic profiles and anticancer effectiveness of these bioactive compounds. This comprehensive review is based on an analysis of recent literature retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases. It focuses on findings from preclinical and in vitro studies that examine the pharmacokinetic enhancements provided by phytosome technology when applied to secondary metabolites. Phytosome-encapsulated secondary metabolites exhibit significantly improved solubility, absorption, distribution, and cellular uptake compared to non-encapsulated forms. This enhanced bioavailability facilitates more effective inhibition of cancer pathways, including NF-κB and PI3K/AKT, leading to increased anticancer efficacy in preclinical models. Phytosome technology has demonstrated its potential to overcome bioavailability challenges, resulting in safer and more effective therapeutic options for cancer treatment. This review highlights the potential of phytosome-based formulations as a novel approach to anticancer therapy, supporting further development in preclinical, in vitro, and potential clinical applications.

Effect of curcumin loaded in nanoemulsion basil seed gum coating on the reduction of acrylamide and oil absorption in fried potato strips

Frying is one of the oldest cooking methods, widely used to prepare crispy and flavorful foods. However, a significant concern with fried foods is the high amount of oil absorption. The application of edible coatings is a common approach to reducing oil absorption in fried potatoes. This study examines the effects of basil seed gum (BSG) edible coatings at three concentrations (1 %, 1.5 %, and 2 %), with and without curcumin nanoemulsion, on the characteristics of fried potato strips. Various parameters, including coating efficiency, moisture content, oil absorption, oil oxidation, acrylamide formation, and color indexes of the fried potatoes, were evaluated. The curcumin nanoemulsion coatings exhibited nano-sized particles (ranging from 119.2 to 150.5 nm) with a negative zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency above 60 %, displaying shear-thinning behavior. Scanning electron morphology analysis confirmed the encapsulation of curcumin within the coating structure. The highest moisture content (6.17 %), frying efficiency (50.17 %), and lowest oil absorption (25.94 %) were observed when the 2 % basil seed gum coating with nanoemulsion was used. The highest peroxide value (4.88 meq O2/kg), thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value (0.142 mg MDA/kg), and acrylamide formation (1473.5 µg/kg) were recorded in the uncoated control samples. Regarding color indexes, the uncoated control sample exhibited the highest lightness (L* = 63.1) and lowest yellowness (b*=28.7). Sensory evaluation indicated that potato strips coated with 1.5 % BSG containing curcumin nanoemulsion received the highest sensory scores. Utilizing BSG edible coating with curcumin nanoemulsion for coating potato strips can enhance the nutritional value and sensory properties of fried potatoes, making it a promising approach for improving product quality.

Development of three-layer microneedle system for controlled and sustained release of Levonorgestrel: A pioneering approach to long-term contraceptive delivery.

The increasing prevalence of unintended pregnancies, a persistent issue affecting public health and hindering progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlights the critical need for innovative contraceptive approaches. While current methods, including hormonal contraceptives such as levonorgestrel (LNG), offer potential solutions, challenges like limited access and inconsistent use persist. This study introduces a new approach with the development of a three-layer microneedle (TIMN) containing LNG designed to provide extended contraceptive efficacy. The TIMN was formulated with varying concentrations of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polycaprolactone (PCL) in the first layer, resulting in microneedles approximately 700µm in height. In this study, TIMN demonstrated superior mechanical strength with less than 10% reduction in needle height under compression. The formulations maintained a surface pH within the skin's normal range, ensuring safety and compatibility, while water vapor transmission (WVT) values indicated good stability under high humidity. Moisture absorption ability (MAA) testing showed low water absorption, suggesting suitability for extended use. In vitro release studies revealed that TIMN released 28.34% of LNG after 24h and up to 97.34% over 14days, demonstrating controlled and sustained release. Ex vivo studies confirmed TIMN's longer-lasting LNG availability compared to the control, and in vivo pharmacokinetic studies showed that TIMN maintained therapeutic LNG levels for up to 14days, outperforming oral LNG suspension. Biocompatibility tests, including HET-CAM and hemolysis assays, confirmed TIMN's safety, with no significant irritation or toxicity. Histopathological analysis further supported the absence of adverse reactions. The TIMN formulation, exhibits promising properties for long-term drug delivery, including mechanical strength, stability, controlled release, and biocompatibility, making it a viable candidate for improved contraceptive therapy.

Histological Validation of Multi-Echo Gradient Echo (MGRE)-Derived Myelin Water Fraction (MWF) at 9.4 T and the Influence of Orientation on Quantification.

Myelin is essential in the nervous system of mammals. As the location and degree of myelin loss can reflect varied pathophysiological status, noninvasive measurement of myelin is of high importance. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique of myelin water fraction (MWF) derived from multi-echo gradient echo (MGRE) sequence is a promising tool for the quantification of myelin content due to the low specific absorption rate (SAR) compared with the spin-echo sequence, time efficiency, and wide availability. Yet to our knowledge, MGRE-derived MWF has never been quantitatively validated with histology. The main objective of this study was to quantitatively validate the MRI findings by referencing the myelin histology using a rat model. As a second objective, we investigated how the orientation of white matter fibers with respect to the static B0 field impacted both the apparent transverse relaxation rate (R2* = 1/T2*) and the derived MWF. Moreover, MWF is known to change with age; thus, we compared rat brains of different ages. The orientation effect of MWF in a clinical setting was studied using 3 T human data. Twenty exvivo rat brains with different ages and three healthy volunteers were scanned on a 9.4 T Bruker and 3.0 T Siemens systems, respectively. The 3D MGRE and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data were acquired. Our results showed a highly significant correlation between MGRE-derived MWF and histological stain of myelin, and susceptibility and diffusivity also demonstrated a significant association with myelin. Both MWF and R2* (R2* = 1/T2*) values changed as a function of orientation, and the function varied with age. Furthermore, MWF and R2* were more sensitive to age than DTI. Invivo 3 T human MWF also changed substantially with the orientation as well. Our results support that MGRE-derived MWF can be used to assess the myelin content quantitatively.

3DCryoHolder: a new open access 3D printable system to store and transport silicon nitride membranes under cryogenic conditions for spectromicroscopy at low temperature.

Data acquisition under cryogenic conditions allows one to avoid unwanted damage caused by beam irradiation. This is particularly important for the study of biological samples at hard X-ray, micro- or nano-probe beamlines, which focus synchrotron radiation to small beam sizes with extremely high flux densities. Sample preparation methods for cryopreserved specimens have been adapted from electron microscopy, and include the use of silicon nitride membranes as they are easy to handle and possess low X-ray absorption. Yet, currently there are no commercially available methods for the storage and transport of silicon nitride membranes under cryogenic conditions. Here, we introduce and provide the design files of 3DCryoHolder, a system that can be 3D printed in-house for the correct storage and transport of multiple silicon nitride membranes under cryogenic conditions, and is compatible with all commercial plunge-freezing instruments.

A Taguchi-based study on the control factors of reinforced composites with the fiber of coir and pineapple leaves.

The use of composite materials, whether metallic or non-metallic, is becoming more popular nowadays because of some of their superior characteristics compared to the use of wood and metallic materials alone. From this perspective, a new natural fiber reinforced composite by varying the fiber orientation was developed in this study using coir and pineapple leaf fiber. This work uses the Taguchi method to investigate the different effects of control factors on mechanical and physical characteristics of the fabricated natural fiber-based composites. Various control factors were used, including fiber ratios, angles of orientation, and mat types. The testing was conducted in accordance with ASTM standards, and the results were validated through various statistical analyses including Taguchi orthogonal array analysis, confirmation tests, regression analysis, and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Based on the analysis and validation, the highest mean impact strength was found 53.93J/cm2, tensile strength 31.94MPa, flexural strength 46.365MPa, Rockwell hardness number 77, and lower water absorption rate only 3.62%. From the confirmation test, margin of errors was found to be 4.84%, 2.59%, 2.35%, 6.62%, and 2.334% for impact, tensile, and flexural strength, Rockwell hardness, and water absorption test respectively. The variation of the experimental and predicted results was observed from the regression analysis, and it was 2.93 to 0.4J/cm2, 2.12 to 0.79MPa, 3.54 to 0.33MPa, 2.33 to 0.8 RHN, and 0.92%-0.13% for impact, tensile, and flexural strength, Rockwell hardness, and water absorption test respectively. Overall, ANOVA analysis was used to examine the effects of different control variables, and it was discovered that the angle of orientation of fibers had a substantial impact on flexural strength and water absorption rate were 72.30% and 70.89% respectively. Similarly, mat types on tensile strength and Rockwell hardness with 46.47% and 50.67% respectively. In addition, the impact strength was most significantly affected by the wt.% ratio of fibers, which was approximately 50.32%. From the above characteristics and their environmentally friendly behavior, these composites can be used in the place of synthetic fiber-based products.

Terahertz Hybrid Detection of Chiral Enantiomers with Intrinsic Low Absorption enabled by Metasurface

Terahertz Hybrid Detection of Chiral Enantiomers with Intrinsic Low Absorption enabled by Metasurface

Field implementation of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) in concrete pavement test track

ABSTRACT This pilot study aimed to fill the knowledge gap on incorporating cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) in concrete pavements in real-world construction settings. The constructability of CNC concrete was evaluated, and the fresh and hardened properties were fully characterised. A series of concrete slabs were placed using ordinary portland cement concrete (OPC mix), portland limestone cement concrete (PLC mix), and PLC-concrete with CNC at a dosage of 0.10% wt. of cementitious materials (CNC mix). CNC and PLC mix showed no significant differences in consistency, workability, and other fresh properties. The addition of CNC did not show significant changes in cumulative heat over PLC. CNC did not lead to notable changes in compressive and flexural strength, modulus of elasticity, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and electrical resistivity. However, the CNC mix had a notably 9% lower drying shrinkage strain at seven months than the PLC mix. The PLC mix exhibited the lowest water absorption rate, while CNC did not induce significant changes. Overall, this study highlights the constructability of concrete slabs with CNC, with notable contributions of CNC to reducing long-term drying shrinkage.

Design and Characterization of Novel Polymeric Hydrogels with Protein Carriers for Biomedical Use.

Hydrogels are three-dimensional polymeric matrices capable of absorbing significant amounts of water or biological fluids, making them promising candidates for biomedical applications such as drug delivery and wound healing. In this study, novel hydrogels were synthesized using a photopolymerization method and modified with cisplatin-loaded protein carriers, as well as natural extracts of nettle (Urtica dioica) and chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.). The basic components of the hydrogel were polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyvinyl alcohol, while polyethylene glycol diacrylate was used as a crosslinking agent and 2-methyl-2-hydroxypropiophenone as a photoinitiator. The hydrogels demonstrated high swelling capacities, with values up to 4.5 g/g in distilled water, and lower absorption in Ringer's solution and simulated body fluid (SBF), influenced by ionic interactions. Wettability measurements indicated water contact angles between 51° and 59°, suggesting balanced hydrophilic properties conducive to biomedical applications. Surface roughness analyses revealed that roughness values decreased after incubation, with Ra values ranging from 6.73 µm before incubation to 5.94 µm after incubation for samples with the highest protein content. Incubation studies confirmed the stability of the hydrogel matrix, with no significant structural degradation observed over 20 days. However, hydrogels containing 2.0 mL of protein suspension exhibited structural damage and were excluded from further testing. The synthesized hydrogels show potential for application as carriers in localized drug delivery systems, offering a platform for future development in areas such as targeted therapy for skin cancer or other localized treatments.

Utilize imagery and crowdsourced data on spatial employment modelling

Background: Spatial employment modeling investigates employment distribution, patterns, influencing factors, neighboring area impact, and regional policy efficacy. Conventional studies often rely on traditional data sources, which may overlook critical employment-related phenomena. In 2022, Java recorded the lowest labor absorption rate in Indonesia, necessitating a new approach.Aim: This study combines imagery, crowdsourced data, and official statistics to identify factors influencing labor absorption in Java Island.Method: Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) was employed to account for spatial effects in the data.Results: The model reveals that nighttime light intensity in urban and agricultural areas, along with environmental quality, significantly enhances labor absorption across Java. Internet facilities, universities, and the number of micro and small industries also positively influence most districts/cities.Conclusion: Incorporating new data sources offers valuable insights for understanding employment patterns and can enrich employment research frameworks.

Pengaruh Penambahan Abu Sekam Terhadap Kuat Tekan, Daya Serap Air, dan Kinerja Termal pada Bata Beton

Bricks are widely used in construction due to their affordability and ease of production, but traditional bricks pose environmental challenges. This study explores improving brick quality by adding rice husk ash (RHA). Two types of bricks, solid and perforated (37 x 15 x 9 cm, with 4 x 7 cm perforations), were tested with RHA additions of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%. Tests included water absorption, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity at 21 days. The results showed that adding up to 10% of RHA significantly improved compressive strength and water absorption. The 10% variation gave the best compressive strength: 4.74 MPa for solid bricks and 4.56 MPa for perforated bricks. However, adding more than 10% reduced strength. The 5% RHA variation had the lowest water absorption, 1.95% for solid bricks and 1.93% for perforated, making it ideal for applications requiring water resistance. Bricks with 20% RHA demonstrated the best thermal performance, reducing temperature rise by 8.23°C in solid bricks and 8.00°C in perforated bricks. The 20% variation also lowered production costs, making it the most economical option. In conclusion, RHA is an effective additive for improving brick quality, with 10% RHA being optimal for strength and water resistance and 20% RHA for thermal performance and cost efficiency.