An Investigation into the Effect of Firing Temperature on the Physical and Thermal Properties of Clay Bricks:

The firing process, which requires a significant amount of energy, is a crucial factor affecting the production cost of clay bricks, a widely utilized conventional construction material globally. The physical properties of fired clay bricks, such as porosity, shrinkage, density, loss on ignition and thermal conductivity, are critical factors that determine their performance and durability. In this study, the effect of firing temperature on the physical properties of clay bricks made from four different types of clay was investigated. The four clay types were selected based on their varying mineral composition, which could affect their physical properties. Clay bricks were manually formed and then fired at temperatures ranging from 850 ℃ to 1050 ℃ in steps of 100 ℃. Loss on ignition, Shrinkage, and thermal conductivity of the fired bricks were measured after each firing cycle to assess the effects of the firing temperature on these physical properties. The research found that the physical characteristics of each type of clay varied and had an impact on how burnt bricks behaved.