Physical and mechanical properties by utilizing empty fruit bunch into fired clay brick

• Main Authors: Kadir, Aeslina Abdul, Sarani, Noor Amira, Mokhtar, Siti Zulaikha, Abdullah, Mohd Mustafa Al Bakri
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural wastes; Bricks; Clay; Compressive strength; Heating rate; Mechanical properties; Palm oil; Physical properties; Shrinkage; Suction; Waste disposal
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/1.4981834

Palm oil plantation has become one of the country’s success stories in agricultural development which also generates the highest number of waste among the agricultural waste. In this study, the investigation on the possibility to utilize the empty fruit bunch (EFB) waste into the fired clay brick was carried out. The main purpose of this study is to determine the physical and mechanical properties of bricks incorporated with different percentages of EFB. In this study, bricks with four different percentages of EFB (0 %, 1 %, 5 % and 10 %) were manufactured. Manufactured bricks were fired at 1050 °C with heating rate of 1 °C/min. Physical and mechanical properties including shrinkage, density, Initial Rate of Suction (IRS) and compressive strength were reported and discussed. Since shrinkage for each mixing is below than 8 %, then a good brick was manufactured. Bricks become more porous due to the organic content of EFB are burnt away and voids are formed in the specimen, giving it a lighter appearance and were produced lightweight brick which is suitable for non-loading purposes. As a conclusion, the incorporation of EFB into fired clay brick gives some advantages to the brick properties and also provides an alternative solution to disposed EFB waste.