Coal Combustion By-Product Utilization in Construction Brick

摘要

Gypsum bricks possess engineering properties that make them suitable for both face brick construction and as pavers in areas of intermediate to low pedestrian traffic in moderate weathering climates. Production costs are drastically reduced as no energy is wasted to "burn" the bricks at high temperatures, as is necessary with fired-clay bricks. All of the by-product materials created by coal-burning plants are utilized except for the fly ash. By using hemihydrate as a binder, a construction brick unit can be manufactured and sold within one hour of its fabrication. The only problem with this fast production rate is the time of workability for the hemihydrate material. Existing production methods will require a longer period of workability in order to prevent the material from setting up in the mixer or the molds. A type of retarder for the production of the brick needs to be investigated.