Abstract:
This study assessed the properties of fired clay bricks containing wood saw dust (WSD) and waste glass (WG) additives towards providing alternative to concrete bricks in the construction of low cost housing. Materials used include clay sourced from Ijapo clay hill in Akure; Ondo State, Nigeria; wood saw dust, waste glass and water. Samples were produced by the mixture of fixed amount of WSD (5% by weight) and varied proportions of WG (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40% by weight) to clay with water addition. The samples were left untouched in open air for 12 hours in the laboratory, to allow the mixture to settle and have a measure of dryness, compactment and stability before they were transferred into the oven. Samples were then oven dried for 8 hours at 110ᵒC to allow removal of moisture content. After, they were fired at 5ᵒC/min until 800ᵒC was attained in an electric furnace, then soaked for 2 hours and allowed to cool in the furnace. Samples were tested for firing shrinkage, apparent porosity, bulk density, water absorption, saturation coefficient, efflorescence, compressive strength, flexural strength, wear resistance and thermal conductivity. Results obtained indicated that as WG content increased in the samples, dimensional stability, bulk density, wear resistance, compressive strength and flexural strength were enhanced. Even though at 35% and 40% by weight WG, flexural strength reduced in value. Apparent porosity and water absorption reduced as WG content increased, while thermal conductivity reduced from sample A (0.21W/mK) to C (0.18 W/mK) and later increased progressively from sample D (20% by weight WG and 5% by weight WSD) to sample H (40% by weight WG and 5% by weight WSD). Results obtained were compared with existing standard values. Property evaluation table, compliance level and compliance to cost ratio (C-CR) analysis were used to select optimum sample in terms of service performance and cost. Sample D (5% by weight WSD and 20% by weight WG), with cost ratio 0.1946, compliance level 94% has the highest C-CR of 4.8304 and was recommended for low cost housing.
