Optimizing Red Soil-Based Geopolymer Bricks: A Sustainable Approach towards Environmentally Friendly Construction Materials

Abstract

In the whole world, construction activities are happening rapidly as a result of the population increase and also due to the lifestyle of people in the 20th century, intensifying the pressure on resources needed for construction. It also causes bad effects on the environment, such as the carbon footprint associated with cement production and the waste management of emission waste like fly ash in thermal power plants. Counteracting and stabilizing the adverse environmental consequences, this study adopts an experimental approach to utilize thermal power plant waste Class C Fly ash (pozzolanic), locally available red soil, and stone dust, along with geopolymer precursors, to manufacture bricks, which are the most demanding material for infill masonry work. The mechanical, durability, and microstructural characterization of the bricks were studied for various mix proportions, along with various concentrations of geopolymer precursors, cured at elevated temperatures and ambient curing. An optimum methodology was obtained to develop a red soil-based geopolymer brick.