Potential of using palm oil fuel ash and expanded polystyrene as an alternative concrete substance

Recently, the use of recyclable materials as concrete materials has become increasingly popular. Many researchers have interested on the use of different materials such as fibre, pozzolanic materials, plastic, polystyrene, food waste and so on for the replacement of cement, fine and coarse aggregates, as well as sand. This is because the disposal of industrial waste and non-biodegradable materials such as plastic or polystyrene has increased drastically in recent years, thereby causing many problems to the environment. In addition, the palm oil industry has also been contributing to the increasing amount of industrial waste. Previous studies have identified the potential of palm oil fly ash (POFA) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) as concrete substances. The purpose of this study was to determine the compressive strength, density and thermal conductivity of concrete made using partial percentages of POFA and EPS as cement and fine aggregate replacement, respectively. The proportions of POFA used as a cement replacement were 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% by weight. Meanwhile, the proportions of EPS used as fine aggregate replacement were 10%, 20% and 30% by volume. The mechanical properties between concrete containing POFA and EPS and that of normal concrete were compared. The concrete samples were designed to achieve the target strength of 25 MPa at the age of 28 days. Through this study, the higher proportions of POFA and EPS used showed the lower compressive strength and density of concrete. The optimum percentages for cement and fine aggregate replacement were determined as 20% of EPS and 20% of POFA, respectively. The concrete compressive strength containing 20% of EPS and 20% of POFA closely achieved the strength of 20 MPa which is the highest compressive strength at 28 days compared to other percentages of replacement and fulfilled the requirements strength of structural concrete. Through this study also, showed the decrease in thermal conductivity was mainly contributed by the volume of EPS used. The lower thermal conductivity occurred due to EPS particles characteristic which is lower thermal capacity

Building Materials and Items : manual for students and masters of building specialities

Рассмотрены основные свойства, способы производства и применения строительных материалов и изделий различного назначения

Potters Kiln Bricks: Using Manual Brick Making Machine

Bricks production is of vital importance for the sustenance and development of Nigerian ceramic potteries, ceramic tiles, red bricks and glass industries. Ceramic brick is the unit of kiln construction which without, ceramic production is impossible. Despite the availability of raw materials for potters kiln brickmaking locally everywhere in this country, little has been done in terms of investigating and designing standard brickmaking processes in Nigeria. Right from the inception of soft mud brickmaking method which is the main method for local production of potters kiln bricks has been associated with some problems. The production of brick (handmade brick) is found to be very slow, time consuming and labour intensive. This method of production is associated with irregular shapes due to its poor compaction capacity which affect lifespan of the kiln and insolation performance as well. Hence, there is need to attempt to produce potters kiln bricks with manual brickmaking machine which will minimize these problems. These manual bricks making machine was made primarily to produce concrete cement brick.   The successful completion of this research will therefore lead to replacement of the soft mud brickmaking process, and also substitute the high-tech motorized Compressed Earth Brick (CEB) machine, with locally constructed brickmaking machine it will also improve the quality of the thermal and mechanical properties of the brick in terms of shape and form using the standard compaction pressure which is equivalent to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) stabilization standard. This will also help in reducing the cost of buying imported ceramic brick at a higher rate, as well as create self-employment opportunities and support the growth of contemporary pottery and ceramic entrepreneurship programme in Nigeria. Keywords: Kiln, brick, pottery, refractory DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-11-04 Publication date: April 30th 201

Effects of the Addition of Sawdust Ash and Iron Ore Tailings on the Characteristics of Clay Soil

An evaluation of the effects of additives and firing temperatures on clay bricks characteristics was studied. The two (2) additives used were sawdust ash (SDA) and iron ore tailing wastes (IOTW), and the five (5) firing temperatures of 400o C to 1200o C at intervals of 200o C were applied. The fired bricks were tested for linear shrinkage, water absorption, density, and compressive strength. The results of the investigations showed that firing temperature improved the clay brick characteristics across all replacement levels. However, the SDA additions increased the linear shrinkage and the water absorption but decreased the density and compressive strength. On the other hand, the addition of IOTW to the clay-SDA mixture, reduced both the linear shrinkage and water absorption of the clay bricks, and increased the density and compressive strength. The statistical values and the regression models derived on the experimental data using Minitab 18 Software were significant

Fungi in Flux | Designing Regenerative Materials and Products with Mycelium

As the world grapples with the escalating crisis of climate threats and environmental degradation, this research delves into the synergistic potential of design and biology, developing safe and sustainable materials for applications in prototyping, furniture and interior design. Harnessing the power of a unique organism - fungi, the study proposes an accessible, efficient, and resilient material resource system. It utilizes local waste streams and mycelium (the vegetative part of fungi) to grow functional structures. An experimental and small-scale protocol is modeled by testing bio-fabrication and bio-printing methods. The composites\u27 performance qualities and characteristics are evaluated through mechanical testing and a survey of experiential attributes. A series of workshops introduced participants to the creative possibilities of integrating myco-materials into their practice, leading to insights and possibilities in new processes and products. To foster a deeper understanding of sustainability, the carbon footprint and ecological impact of these materials are examined. Envisioning a paradigm shift in industrial ecology, the proposed ideas reduce dependence on non-biodegradable, toxic, and harmful materials. With the principles of biology and design, this work hopes to transcend the trajectory of conventional materials - particularly plastics, and move toward a regenerative future

Critical review of recent development in fiber reinforced adobe bricks for sustainable construction

Open Access via Springer Compact Agreement. The authors gratefully acknowledge the research support fund provided by the Sudanese Ministry of Higher Education, School of Engineering University of Khartoum and the School of Engineering, University of Aberdeen.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Waste-based materials in residential house construction

Waste from the construction sector has been increasing considerably in recent years, making it urgent to find alternatives to this waste that will enable us to preserve the environment and ecosystems. Many studies demonstrate the viability of using this and other waste in the construction sector, such as wood, ashes, and plastics. This article presents a review of research works where residual materials have been applied in the construction sector. To achieve this objective, a total of 35 articles were reviewed, published in English-speaking journals between 2015 and 2023. This review shows that, although in recent years efforts have been made for the application of waste materials in the construction sector has been significant, however, there is still work to be done in the study of the behavior of these residual materials, such as the emission of greenhouse gases, as well as the importance of residual materials pretreatment to ensure compatibility with the rest of the components. Another important aspect is that most studies consider environmental aspects without taking into account social and economic issues surrounding them in the construction sector

Строительные материалы и изделия = Building Materials and Items : учебное пособие

Рассмотрены основные свойства, способы производства и применения строительных материалов и изделий различного назначения. Предложены иллюстративный материал, контрольные вопросы для самопроверки. Предназначено для иностранных студентов учреждений высшего образования по специальностям «Производство строительных изделий и конструкций», «Экспертиза и управление недвижимостью». Может быть полезно студентам и преподавателям строительных специальностей вузов

Progress in manufacture and properties of construction materials incorporating water treatment sludge: A review

© 2019 Elsevier B.V. Water treatment sludge (WTS) management is a growing global problem for water treatment plants (WTPs) and governments. Considering the scarcity of raw materials in many parts of the planet and unique properties of WTS, extensive research has been conducted on the application of WTS in the production of construction materials such as roof tiles, bricks, lightweight aggregates, cement, concrete and geopolymers. This paper critically reviews the progress in the application of WTS in construction materials, by synthesizing results from recent studies. Research findings have revealed that incorporation of ≤10% alum-based sludge in ceramic bricks is satisfactory with a small reduction of mechanical performance. Using the iron-based sludge, the bricks presented better mechanical strength than the reference clay-bricks. Concerning WTS application in concrete, 5% replacement of cement or sand by WTS was considered as the ideal value for the application in a variety of structural and non-structural concrete without adverse effect on concrete mechanical performance. Furthermore, this paper discusses sludge-amended concrete in terms of durability, potential leaching of toxic elements and cost, and suggests topics for future research on the sustainable management of WTS