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What are the different ingredients used in the bricks?
Bricks are the most commonly used building materials. The standard size of the bricks used as 190mmX90mmX90mm according to the standards. In this article you will able to learn about various ingredients used in the bricks making process. The better percentages of the ingredients in the bricks will give high strength and better durability.
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Ingredients in bricks
The following are the five types of ingredients used n the making of the bricks
- Silica
- Alumina
- Lime
- Iron oxide
- Magnesia
Silica
In the best quality bricks the percentage of silica used at the percentage of 50 percentage to 60percentage. The suitable proportion of silica will prevent the cracking, shrinkage and warping in the bricks. The main use of the silica to keep the shape of brick at high temperature. If the percentage of silica exceeds in the brick it will results in decrease in the cohesion between the brick particles and brick becomes brittle in nature.
Alumina
Alumina is the second ingredient in the brick ingredient which is having the percentage in between 20%-30%. The alumina in the brick will help to increase the plasticity of earth which is mainly useful at the molding stage. If the excess of the alumina in the brick will results in shrinkage and warping during the drying of the bricks.
Lime
Lime is the third ingredient in the brick which is having the percentage in between 5-10%. The main purpose of lime to melt clay while burning process and which helps in bonding. The lime reacts with silica and it causes to bind the particles together in increase in the strength. Excess of lime in the composition of bricks will results to melt and go out of shape.
Iron oxide
The iron oxide is the fourth ingredient in the brick which is consisting of 5 to 7 percentage. It gives colour to the brick. The main purpose of iron oxide to decrease the permeability and to increase the durability of the brick. It is also help in increase in the strength and hardness of the brick. If the iron oxide in the brick is less the brick become yellowish colour and have less hard.
Magnesia
The magnesia is the fifth ingredient in the brick which is consisting of approximately 1%. The main use of magnesia gives yellow color to the brick and it will reduces shrinkage to the brick. Excess of the magnesia in the causes decay of the brick.
Harmful ingredients in the bricks
The following are the some of the major harmful ingredients of the brick which are mainly
Lime lumps
The lumps of lime after burning becomes quick lime and makes the brick to expand in the presents of moisture content and causes splitting of bricks.
Iron pyrites
The iron pyrites in the bricks will results to get crystallized and disintegrated during burning process. The major disadvantage of iron pyrites in the bricks to get dis coloured bricks.
Alkalies
These are in the form of the sode and potash and it will acts as flux in the burning process causes twist, fuse and warp that will results in efflorescence in the brick.
Pebbles
The pebbles are the small stones which are sometimes observed in the brick. If the pebbles are presents in the brick block will results in less strength and brick becomes weak.
Vegetation and organic matter
If the vegetation or organic matter presents in the brick material while making process. These materials are melt at the burning process which are results to increase the voids that may lead in getting low strength values
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Conclusions of what are the ingredients of the bricks
Well now the above explained concepts are related to the different types of ingredients used in the bricks making process. Basically the five types which are related to the silica, alumina, lime, iron oxide and magnesia. The harmful ingredients related to lime lumps, iron pyrites, alkalies, pebbles are the major types which leads in decrease in the strength of bricks.
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Note: The above concepts and information only helps for the civil engineering students to get brief idea regarding the topic. Do not consider it for the real time applications.
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