Natural zeolite composite bricks containing sugarcane bagasse ash: an innovative sustainable construction material

Abstract

The present research has considered natural zeolite as the base member of the brick composition, and sugarcane bagasse ash, as an additive. Ceramic brick samples consisting 0, 10, and 20% sugarcane bagasse ash by mass of the samples, and natural zeolite as the rest of the total mass were cast. The samples were subjected to uniaxial dry pressing, sintered, and prepared in an electric furnace at temperatures of 950–1050 °C. Mineralogical composition, chemical composition, and particle size distribution of natural zeolite and sugarcane bagasse ash were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and granulation test, respectively. Also, the effect of different compositions and different sintering temperatures on the samples’ physical and thermal properties were studied. The results showed that the thermal conductivity of the samples ranges from 0.89 to 1.46 W/mk. Samples that were sintered at 950 °C and had a higher sugarcane bagasse ash percentage showed a lower thermal conductivity. Also, the samples exhibited compressive strength, ranging from 2 to 30.4 MPa. The ceramic brick, composed of 20% sugarcane bagasse ash, subjected to a sintering temperature of 950 °C, exhibited optimal characteristics. This particular sample obtained a thermal conductivity of 0.89 W/mk and a density of 1.3 g/cm³.