This paper presents engineering and mineralogical characteristics of stabilized unfired montmorillonitic clay bricks treated by different curing methods. Quicklime (up to 30 wt.%) and Portland cement (up to 15 wt.%) at different proportions were used as stabilizers to Egyptian montmorillonitic clay in clay-based mixtures. Sand was used in the formulations of the unfired clay brick specimens. The formulated clay specimens were treated by moisture and spray techniques until 90 days of curing. The laboratory unfired stabilized clay specimens were identified using X-ray diffraction technique. In addition, physical and mechanical properties were measured according to the Egyptian Standard Specification (ESS) 1234-2005 and evaluated in accordance with the Egyptian Code for Building Units (ECP) 204-2005 to ensure the quality and impact of the made unfired clay specimens.The quantification of the formed phases demonstrated a detrimental effect of calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H), portlandite (Ca(OH) 2 ) and calcite (CaCO 3 ) phases in the studied samples. The physico-mechanical results of the specimens cured by the moisture method were higher than those treated by the spray of the same sample. In all cases, the test results suggested that cement amended specimen properties rather than lime. Moreover, as explained from the obtained physico-mechanical properties, calcium hydroxide generated from the hydration of cement is more reactive than that from the hydration of the added lime. Also, it is recommended to use the suitable mixture for rural building construction in tropical countries. ª 2013 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Housing and Building National Research Center.
Nowadays kaolin raw material is usually used to produce nano-kaolin for geopolymer enhancement by using firing method. In the present study, kaolin used was taken from the Naqus Formation (Cambro-Ordovician age), west of Gabal El Gunna, Sinai, Egypt. Nano-kaolin material is an ultrafine material and was prepared from the taken kaolin by the firing process at 800for 2 ℃ h with a heating rate of 5 /min. Six mixes were prepared and their laboratory specimens were made ℃ and cured up to 90 days. Water cooled slag was used as starting material, and sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate were used in the study as activators for the used kaolin. The formed geopolymer mixes with different ratios (1%, 1.5%, 3%, 5%, and 7%) of nano-kaolin as a partial replacement for the raw kaolin were investigated. Gelenium Ace super plasticizer was added in the ratio of 4% from the dry weight to ensure good dispersing of the used nano clay. Results showed that increasing the percentage of nano-kaolin up to 3% results in an enhancement in the mechanical properties as compared with the control mix up to 90 days of curing, while higher ratios are not preferable where they lead to agglomeration of the added nano materials and matrix dilution.
This study evaluates the feasibility of stabilizing clay bricks with marble cutting waste (MCW). This waste currently discarded in huge quantities as a sludge resulted from sawing the marble blocks to slabs, grinding and polishing of marble processes to the landfills located around the marble processing factories located in the Shaq El-Thoban industrial zone, Cairo governorate, Egypt causing negative impacts on the environment, health and sustainable development. Experimental investigations were carried out to explore the effect of addition of the MCW in different clay-base mixes at different percentages up to 25% at the expense of the hydrated lime. Cement, hydrated lime and MCW are the three types of solidification agents used, clay and sand were also added in the formulations of the unfired clay brick specimens. Laboratory cylindrical stabilized and compressed specimens were made, and then they were cured in a humidity chamber for 2 and 4 weeks, then after were air dried, tested and evaluated according to the Egyptian code for the building by the stabilized and compressed earth soil (ECBS, 2016). To enhance the durability of the cured specimens, transparent silicon – based paint was used for this purpose. The laboratory results demonstrate high potential usage of MCW based additives up to 15% incorporating HL. In addition, the used paint could be an effective treatment way for the use of stabilized bricks in a wet environment. The use of eco-friendly building materials will be a great contribution for the environmental advantages and suggest a remarkable economical alternative to the fired building units.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.