PROPERTY EVALUATION AND COMPLIANCE LEVEL ANALYSIS OF GLASS WASTES REINFORCED CERAMIC COMPOSITES FOR MASONRY APPLICATIONS

Abstract: This study investigated the effects of various sieve fractions of waste glass (WG) on the properties of fired clay bricks in order to enhance its service efficiency for masonry. Green bricks prepared with various sieve fractions of WG were dried in air for 24 hours and later in an oven at 110 ᵒCfor 8 hours to remove moisture content and then fired in a furnace at 4 ᵒC/min until 1000 ᵒC was attained. They were left to soak for another 4 hours and allowed to cool in the furnace. Samples were tested for firing shrinkage, weight loss, apparent porosity, water absorption, bulk density, compressive strength and modulus of rupture. Property evaluation and compliance level analysis were carried out on the results obtained, to check level of compliance with existing standards. Results revealed that firing shrinkage, weight loss, apparent porosity and water absorption reduced as WG particle sizes reduced while bulk density, compressive strength and modulus of rupture increased as WG particle sizes reduced. Compliance level table shows that sieve fractions of -150+75 μm (sample C) and -75 μm (sample D) had 100% compliance with all standards used for comparison, while the control sample X (0% additive), (sample A) -850+300 μm and (sample B) -300+150 μm had 50 %, 63 % and 88 % compliance respectively. In conclusion, WG particles sizes of 150 μm and 75 μm had the optimum impact on the properties of fired clay bricks for construction purposes.