Recycling of Synthetic Waste Wig Fiber in the Production of Cement-Adobe for Building Envelope: Physio-Hydric Properties

Abstract

Waste wigs are often disposed of in their volume in landfills, thus constituting a nuisance to the environment. Recycling these wigs in masonry bricks is a way via which they can be recycled and reused. On such premises, waste wig fiber (WWF) was recycled by incorporating it into the cement-sand-clay composite mix for masonry brick production. The challenges masonry bricks face include shrinkage and water susceptibility, hence the contributory effect of WWF on physio-hydric properties was assessed in this study. Sample preparation entailed the blending of cement, sand, clay soil, and waste wig fiber. The control mix was prepared by commixing clay with 10 % cement (by clay volume) and 20 % sand (by clay volume). Other mix proportions were reinforced with 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 % WWF by clay volume. Prepared composites brick samples were cured for 28 and 56 days and tested for physio-hydric properties. Results revealed that WWF contributed significantly to improving hydro-resisting properties by minimizing porosity, water and moisture absorption, capillary suction, and water permeability. Furthermore, WWF contributed to dimensional stability by reducing shrinkages and weight loss. Hydration time impacts significantly in reducing apparent porosity, water permeability coefficient, moisture and water absorption, capillary suction coefficient; increasing apparent density, weight loss, linear, and volumetric shrinkage. Prolonged time in water ensued higher water absorption. The general outcome depicts that WWF showed promising performance in bricks developed in enhancing water and moisture susceptibility resistance and promoting mass and dimensional stability; hence, it can be employed in reinforcing cement adobe bricks.

Experiment on the Performance of Recycled Powder of Construction Waste on Adobe Materials

“…When cement or lime and mineral admixture are mixed into the adobe materials, Some research achievements have been made on improvements in the properties of adobe materials. Some researchers have studied the mechanical properties of adobe materials under different ratios by mixing cement and cement special mixture materials [9]. The results show that when the water/solid ratio is 1:5, the cement content reaches 20%, the cement special mixture material content is 2%, the adobe material content is 80%, the compressive strength reaches 12 MPa, and the flexural strength reaches 3.2 MPa after 56 days of curing [10].…”

Paper industry slag for the production of building ceramics

“…Waste recycling is one of the most important challenges for green chemistry, circular economies and sustainable development. 1,2 Wastes are often used in the production of materials for various purposes: modified materials for water treatment, [3][4][5] wastewater treatment, 6,7 recovery of metals, 8 pigments 9,10 as well as building materials, such as gypsum, [11][12][13] anhydrite, 14,15 binders, 16 bricks, 17,18 composites, [19][20][21][22] etc.…”

Viscoelastic Measurements of Clay Suspensions and their Relationship to Strength of Unfired Clay Bricks with Almond Husk Additive

“…Consequently, the utilization of waste materials, generated from agricultural and non-agricultural activities, in the production of unfired bricks, is widely recently studied [5]. The most investigated technological properties of bricks are density, porosity, water absorption, flexural strength, compressive strength, thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity [6][7][8]. Nevertheless, few researches investigated the relationship between these properties.…”