Seminar on bricks
By LISHA S and
VAISNAVI B
From BME branch
INTRODUCTION TO BRICKS
Brick is a rectangular block of baked clay which is used for
constructing walls, houses and other structures.
Bricks are one of the traditional material and they are easily
available, economical, strong, durable and reliable.
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Manufacturing of bricks
The process of manufacturing bricks typically involves the
following steps:
1. Preparation of Raw Materials: Clay is the primary raw material.
It's usually excavated and then cleaned of impurities like stones and
organic matter.
2. Molding: The clay is mixed with water to achieve the right
consistency . Then, it's molded into the desired shape using molds
or by hand.
3. Drying: The formed bricks are allowed to dry in the sun or in
drying chambers. This helps to remove excess moisture.
4. Firing: bricks are fired in a kiln at high temperatures, typically
around 900 to 1100 degrees Celsius. This process hardens the bricks
makes them durable.
5. Cooling: After firing, the bricks are left to cool down slowly
in the kiln.
6. Sorting and Packaging: Once cooled, the bricks are inspected
for quality. They are then packaged and ready for distribution and
use.
USES OF BRICKS
1. Bricks are used as a leading material for construction.
2. Bricks are extensively used for construction of load bearing
bearing walls and partition walls.
3.They are used in making broken bricks of required size are used
as an aggregate in concrete.
4. Broken bricks are used as a ballast material for railway tracks
and also as road metal.
5. Burnt clay bricks are most commonly used brick in
construction based on their types and quality.
6. Fire bricks are used for lining the interiors of oven, chimneys
and furnaces.
7.Low quality bricks/over burnt bricks are used as aggregate for
foundation, concrete and road internal works.
PROPERTIES OF BRICKS
Good bricks which are used for construction should possess the following
qualities.
1. Bricks should be uniform in shape and should be of standard size.
2. Bricks should be molded, well burnt in kilns, copper colored, free
from cracks and with sharp and square edges.
3. Bricks when broken should show homogeneous and compact structure.
4. Bricks should give clear ringing sound when struck with each other.
5. A brick should not absorb more than 15% of its water weight when
kept immersed for 24 hours.
6. A brick should not break when dropped from a height of one metre .
7. The crushing strength of brick should not be less than 5.5 N/mm2 .
TYPES OF BRICKS FOR CONSTRUCTION
1. Sun dried bricks or Un-burnt clay bricks.
This type of bricks are not burnt in kilns but were dried in
sun for hardening after molding .
Sun dried bricks are less durable , have less water resistance
and less fire resistance.
Sun dried bricks are used in constructing temporary houses ,
walls and other structures.
2. Burnt clay bricks
Burnt clay brick is one of the very oldest building materials
found in many of the ancient structures of the world.
In appearance, these bricks are solid blocks of hardened clay
and usually reddish in color.
This type of bricks are long lasting and used in constructing
bridges, foundations and multi storied buildings.
3. Fly ash bricks
These bricks are made by using fly ash and water.
The advantages of this bricks are high fire insulation, high
strength, durable and are light weight.
These bricks are used in factories , ware houses and power
plants.
4. Concrete bricks
These bricks are manufactured using concrete with cement ,
sand and water.
These bricks are used in construction of walls, floors,
Foundation and houses.
5. Sand lime or Calcium silicate bricks
This type of bricks are made by mixing lime, sand and
fly-ash.
These bricks are used for various purposes in construction
like masonry works, ornamental works in buildings, etc.
4. 5.
6. Engineering bricks
These bricks have high compressive strength and used for
applications where strength, low porosity, frost resistance
is essential.
This type of bricks are used for basements, because in this
area chemical or water attacks are prevalent.
Classification of burnt clay bricks
a. First Class Bricks :
1. These are thoroughly burnt and are of deep red, cherry or copper color.
2. The surface should be smooth and rectangular, with parallel, sharp
and straight edges and square corners .
3. These should be free from flaws, cracks and stones.
4. These should have uniform texture.
5. No impression should be left on the brick when a scratch is made by
finger nails.
6. The fractured surface of the brick should not show lumps of lime.
7. A metallic or ringing sound should come when two bricks are struck
against each other.
8. Water absorption should be 12-15% of its dry weight when immersed in
cold water for 24 hours.
9. The crushing strength of the brick should not be less than 10 N/mm².
Uses: First class bricks are recommended for pointing, exposed face work
in masonry structures, flooring and reinforced brick work.
b. Second class bricks
These are supposed to have the same requirements as the first
class ones except that small cracks and distortions are
permitted.
A little higher water absorption of about 16-20% of its dry
weight is allowed .
The crushing strength should not be less than 7.0 N/mm².
Uses: Second class are recommended for all important or
unimportant hidden masonry works and in reinforced brick
and reinforced cement concrete (RCC) structures.
c. Third class bricks
These bricks are under burnt.
They are soft and light-colored.
They produce a dull sound when struck against each other.
Water absorption is about 25 per cent of dry weight .
Uses: It is used for building temporary structures.
d. Fourth class bricks
These bricks are over burnt.
Badly distorted in size and shape.
Brittle in nature.
Uses: The ballast of such bricks is used for foundation and floors in lime
concrete and road metal.
