Addition of spent coffee grounds and waste glass to enhance the physical–mechanical and thermal properties of fired clay bricks at reduced temperatures

This study aimed to investigate the potential utilization of spent coffee grounds (SCG) and waste glass (WG) as viable additives to enhance the physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of clay bricks that undergo lower-temperature firing. The clay mixture consisted of 10 wt% SCG, with WG, added at varying concentrations (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% by weight of clay). The bricks underwent firing processes at temperatures of 950 °C and 1050 °C. Subsequently, an evaluation was conducted to determine their physical, mechanical, and thermal properties. The research findings indicated significant improvements in both the strength and porosity of the bricks with the addition of SCG and WG. Specifically, SCG functioned as a pore former, enhancing porosity, while WG played a crucial role as a flux. This ultimately strengthened the bricks by promoting the formation of albite minerals and facilitating the sintering process. When samples with ten weight percent SCG and ten weight percent WG were fired at 950 °C, they met water absorption and strength standards while also having good thermal conductivity properties. The findings of this study indicate that the utilization of SCG and WG as additives in the production of clay bricks fired at lower temperatures can sustainably contribute to their enhanced performance.