Effect of intrinsic clay soil composition on the properties of fired clay bricks

Abstract

In many developing countries, clay bricks are manufactured by cottage industries with little
regards to the intrinsic properties of the clay soil used. This study aimed at determining the
properties of fired clay bricks fabricated under similar conditions from clay soils of varied
intrinsic properties. The clay soils were collected from different locations in Kenya and
their chemical composition analyzed using an Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence. The
bricks were fabricated using a consolidation pressure of 2.5 MPa, oven-dried at 100°C for
24 hours followed by firing at 1000°C for eight hours. The effect of chemical variation of
zonal clay soils on the physical and mechanical properties of clay bricks was established.
The determined properties of fired clay bricks investigated in this study emphasizes the
need for thorough clay soil characterization and chemical properties standardization before
producing bricks for structural applications.