Fabrication and Characterization of Geopolymer Bricks using Construction and Demolition Waste

Abstract

The current study presents the preparation of geopolymer bricks from costless raw materials, mainly industrial wastes, besides using construction and demolition solid waste (C&D) as a substituent with different proportions to homra (waste from clay brick industry), calcium hydroxide (waste resulting from acetylene industry) and NaOH to decrease the number of pollutants released to the environment, moreover reduction of CO2 emission to the atmosphere that produced from the firing of normal bricks. The economic merit in the fabrication of geopolymer bricks is saving the energy required for firing the fired bricks. The raw materials were characterized by XRD, XRF & their particle size distribution. The mechanically blended mixes were moulded, air-dried at room temperature, and tested on compressive strength, water absorption, and bulk density for different curing times (3,7,14 & 28 days). The 5 wt.% C&D waste replacement was also investigated and yielded compressive strength of 6.6 MPa, 8.8MPa, 9.1MPa, and 8.7MPa at 3, 7, 14, and 28 days respectively. The results showed that it was possible to substitute up to 5% of the original mix with construction and demolition solid waste powder to obtain geopolymer bricks samples abiding by ES 4763 / 2006 and ASTM C 62 / 2013 standards.