STRENGTH AND WATER ABSORPTION PROPERTIES OF UNFIRED BRICKS CONTAINING SUGAR CANE BAGASSE ASH

Abstract

Bricks have been a widely utilized material in construction, though their production involves a firing process lasting between 7 and 15 days, which causes air pollution. This research had developed unfired bricks mixed with sugar cane bagasse ash to reduce environmental impacts and utilize biomass materials. The cement - soil ratio is 1:6 and finely ground bagasse ash replaces cement at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 percent by weight. These mixtures were pressed into blocks, cured, and subjected to testing for compressive strength at 7, 14, 28, 60, and 90 days, water absorption and modulus of rupture at 28 days. The study found that the compressive strength at 7, 14, 28, and 60 days decreased as the amount of bagasse ash increased. Notably, at 90 days, the mixture with 10% bagasse ash substitution exhibited the highest compressive strength. An increase in bagasse ash content also led to a decreased modulus of rupture and higher water absorption. The recommended mixture is one that uses bagasse ash to replace 30% of cement, which had a compressive strength of 60 days or more and water absorption that passes the TIS 77-2565 criteria for quality bricks of grades C. Additionally, plaster applied to these unfired bricks demonstrated good adhesion during construction and plastering tests.