Sains Malaysiana 52(7)(2023): 2115-2126

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2023-5207-17

Mechanical Characteristics of Developed Brick from Drinking Water Sludge under Different Firing Temperatures and Rice Husk Ash Contents

(Pencirian Mekanikal Bata yang Dibangunkan daripada Air Minuman Enapcemar di Bawah Suhu Pembakaran Berbeza dan Kandungan Abu Sekam Padi)

ZULFAHMI ALI RAHMAN*, HAFIS NAZARAH, WAN MOHD RAZI IDRIS & TUKIMAT LIHAN

Department of Earth Science and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Received: 13 February 2023/Accepted: 10 July 2023

Abstract

There is a considerable interest in making alternative bricks using wastes. Firing temperature has been significantly improved the mechanical qualities of bricks. The aim of this study was to investigate into the impact of firing temperature and rice husk ash content on the mechanical properties of drinking water sludge bricks (DWS).  Two types of bricks were produced; bricks made of 100% DWS (DWS100) and bricks with 80% DWS and 20% RHA (DWS80). These samples were subjected to different thermal variations of 300 °C and 700 °C for three hours. The unfired brick samples were also prepared for reference.  The volume changes of the DWS100 bricks increased as the firing temperature climbed up to 500 °C, before dropped at 700 °C.  A similar behaviour was also exhibited by DWS80 bricks, however it shrunk at earlier temperature of 500 °C. At 500 °C and 700 °C, the density of bricks decreased dramatically, with DWS80 bricks consistently being lesser than DWS100 bricks. The water absorption of DWS80 brick began to decrease at 500 °C, a lower temperature than that of DWS100, as the firing temperature climbed. RHA-added bricks (DWS80) were anticipated to absorb more water than DWS100 bricks, but this did not occur. This presumably induced by the constriction of clay mineral structure rather than organic matter removal at high temperature per se. The compressive strength increased with the increase in temperature. It can be inferred that RHA can decrease the compressive strength of RHA-added bricks, despite the fact that a higher fire temperature significantly increased their strength.

Keywords: Brick; compressive strength; drinking water sludge; rice husk ash

Abstrak

Terdapat minat yang besar dalam membuat bata alternatif menggunakan bahan buangan. Suhu pembakaran telah meningkatkan kualiti mekanikal batu bata dengan ketara. Matlamat penyelidikan ini adalah untuk mengkaji kesan suhu pembakaran dan kandungan abu sekam padi terhadap sifat mekanikal bata air minuman enapcemar (DWS). Dua jenis bata telah dihasilkan; bata diperbuat daripada 100% DWS (DWS100) dan bata dengan 80% DWS dan 20% RHA (DWS80). Sampel ini tertakluk kepada variasi terma berbeza 300 °C dan 700 °C selama tiga jam. Sampel bata yang tidak dibakar juga disediakan untuk rujukan. Perubahan volum bata DWS100 meningkat apabila suhu pembakaran meningkat sehingga 500 °C, sebelum turun pada 700 °C. Tingkah laku serupa juga ditunjukkan oleh bata DWS80, namun ia mengecut pada suhu awal 500 °C. Pada 500 °C dan 700 °C, ketumpatan bata menurun secara mendadak dengan bata DWS80 secara tekal kurang daripada bata DWS100. Penyerapan air bata DWS80 mula berkurangan pada 500 °C, suhu yang lebih rendah daripada DWS100, apabila suhu pembakaran meningkat. Bata RHA-tambah (DWS80) dijangka menyerap lebih banyak air daripada bata DWS100, tetapi ia tidak berlaku. Ini mungkin disebabkan oleh penyempitan struktur mineral tanah liat dan bukannya penyingkiran bahan organik pada suhu tinggi per se. Kekuatan mampatan meningkat dengan peningkatan suhu. Ia boleh disimpulkan bahawa RHA boleh mengurangkan kekuatan mampatan bata RHA-tambah, walaupun pada hakikatnya suhu api yang lebih tinggi meningkatkan kekuatannya dengan ketara.

Kata kunci: Abu sekam padi; air minuman enapcemar; bata; kekuatan mampatan

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*Corresponding author; email: zarah1970@ukm.edu.my