Effects of waste glass additions on the properties and durability of fired clay brick

The optimization of the production of fired clay brick is essential for the sustainability of the clay brick industry. While there exist areas for improvement of these bricks' properties when they are used in severe climates, concerns - including nonrenewable resource depletion, increasing energy costs, and waste management - have become increasingly important in Canadian and global industries. One strategy to address these concerns is to use waste additives as fluxing agents in bricks. Use of these additives can decrease the dependency of the industry on nonrenewable resources and can improve brick strength and durability. The effect nonrecycled waste glass additives have on fired brick durability and mechanical and transport properties was investigated in this study. The variables studied were waste glass particle size and percentage added by mass. Microstructure was investigated using mercury intrusion porosimetry to determine the effect on pore structure. The results yielded an optimal percentage addition of waste glass.