Technological characterization of a clay used in the manufacture of masonry products for construction

In the present investigation, the physical, mechanical, and chemical characterization of the raw material used in two companies dedicated to the manufacture of solid bricks in the region of Cesar, Colombia, was carried out. Initially, the hydrometric test was performed on five clay samples from different quarries with which the percentages of sand, silt, and clays were determined. These percentages were placed in the Winkler diagram to identify the types of existing clays according to their texture and the types of products that can be manufactured. Subsequently, the chemical characterization was carried out through the X-ray diffraction and fluorescence tests, to determine the phases and elements present in two of the optimal samples for the manufacture of the bricks that may arise during the cooking process. The results of the test of mechanical resistance to compression in solid brick units showed that the clays currently used by the company do not meet the minimum requirements for the production of solid clay bricks, according to the parameters of the Colombian technical standard NTC 4205-09. With this research, we expect to predict the behavior of the raw material in the stages of the production process, which will obviously improve the environmental and economic resources of the companies. The result of the characterization of the raw material will allow us to predict the structural behavior and to carry out indispensable design and reinforcement models in building and attention to the community.