INFLUENCE OF FIRING TEMPERATURE ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF BRICKS

West Sumatra is a province in Indonesia that is known for its high levels of seismic activity. Brick -walled buildings are particularly vulnerable during earthquakes. As the property sector continues to grow, the demand for red bricks in construction is rising. The brick industry in West Sumatra is thriving despite economic pressures. Red brick remains popular among the public, particularly as the main component of walls in simple house buildings. However, each manufacturer uses different raw materials, resulting in varying levels of quality, which still need to meet the Indonesian National Standard (SNI). This research aims to determine which brick composition has the best elemental properties in West Sumatra and investigates the effect of temperature on the chosen brick and its characteristics. The X-ray fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) test results indicate that the composition of Pariaman bricks is the closest to the required standards and so they were selected as test specimens to evaluate brick characteristics. The highest compressive strength results were obtained in bricks at a temperature of 800 oC and they also fulfilled the requirements of SNI 15-2094-2000, with a water absorption capacity under 20% of the water absorption rates. Based on the density testing, the increase in the firing temperatures of the specimens increases the bulk density. This is related to the lower porosity of brick at higher temperature firings. The modulus of elasticity was directly proportional to the compressive strength; the higher the temperature, the higher the brick stiffness.