CHARACTERIZATION OF THE CLAY USED IN MANUFACTURING STRUCTURAL CLAY BRICK

摘要

There are many variables in manufacturing clay masonry units, including primary raw materials. The physical, chemical and mlneralogical characterization of the raw material used in manufacturing allows an important knowledge about the kind of clay is being used in the industrial process. This work dealt with the evaluation of the properties of the clay used in manufacturing structural clay brick by a red-ceramic plant in Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil. Structural clay brick is used in buildings up to five floors providing a reduction on the total cost of their constructions and on environmental impacts, once this kind of brick is made from abundant natural resources and is readily recycled for use in the manufacturing process or other uses, besides its reduced cost. The raw material characterization included Atterberg limits, particle-size distribution, Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD).