Light Weight Clay Bricks in Combination of Sludge Blended with Agro/Wastes

The objective of the study is to produce light weight bricks to use as an isolating layer. So, porous or light weight bricks were prepared from clay, sludge, agro/ashes as Saw dust ash (DSA), sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) and corn stalk ash (CSA) fired up to 900°C. Physical and mechanical properties were investigated. The chemical composition of the starting raw materials was carried out by XRF analysis. Results proved that the water absorption (25.51, 25.74 and 25.86%) and apparent porosity (29.31, 29.51 and 29. 68%) were slightly lowered up to 6 wt. % of these waste ashes, and then increased with further increase. The bulk density (1.9989, 1.9987 and 1.9985 g/cm3) and compressive strength (48.54, 48.45 and 48.26 MPa) improved and enhanced with the replacement up to 6 wt. %, and then diminished. So, the optimum ash content was not more than 6 wt. % because the substitution of more than that bad or adverse effect was exhibited. Results also proved that the physical and compressive strength was better in case of SDA > SCBA > CSA. The prepared fired bricks could be successfully used and preferred as isolating bricks against heat.