Firing Shrinkage

Firing temperature is a key factor affecting shrinkage in the firing process18. High shrinkage causes
destruction of bricks both in firing and drying stages of production. Shrinkage in bricks occurs as
chemically and mechanically bound water is lost. A highly significant linear relationship occurred
between firing temperature and shrinkage (Fig. 5a).

However, increasing firing time had no significant effect on firing shrinkage at any firing temperatures
(Fig. 5b).
Weight
Weight Loss Increasing the firing temperature resulted in increase in brick weight loss ( Fig. 6), which is
15 percent for a standard clay brick. In general, loss of weight under firing over 800°C is attributed to the
loss of organic matter in clay. Furthermore, brick weight loss also depends on the inorganic substances
in clay being burnt off during the firing process18. A second-degree polynomial regression equation
adequately described the effect of firing temperature on the weight loss of clay bricks (Fig. 6a).

However, firing time (Fig. 6b) had no significant effect on weight loss, suggesting that weight loss caused
by dehydroxylation and carbonaceous matter burnt off, is not a time dependent process1.

Density

Density of a clay brick depends on specific gravity of clay, method of manufacture, and degree of
burning. Density18,20 of burned bricks made with clay usually exceeds 1.6 g/cm3, averaging 2.0 g/cm3.
In this study, density was remarkably improved by firing at higher temperatures (Fig. 7a).
 When density of a brick decreases, its strength and heat conductance decrease and water absorption
increases. When the mixture absorbs more water, brick exhibits a larger pore size, resulting in a lower
density18. The density of the bricks varied from 1.61 g/cm3 at 700°C to 1.77 g/cm3 at 1100 °C (Table 2).
Density increased linearly (Fig. 7a) as firing temperature was raised (700-1100°C). This finding is closely
related to the quantity of water absorbed at this point (Fig. 3a), and the decreasing in porosity. When
the mixture absorbs more water, brick exhibits a larger pore size, resulting in a lighter density. Firing
time longevity had no effect on the density of clay bricks (Fig. 7b)

Conclusions

The strength of bricks increases and water absorption decreases with increase in firing temperature
(700-1100ºC). The density and firing shrinkage of brick fired at 700-1100°C also increased with the
increasing firing temperature. Prolonged firing time had no significant effects on the properties of bricks
investigated; therefore, unnecessary longer firing times should be avoided to save time and energy. The
optimum firing time and temperature needed to produce durable bricks with the given material needs
determining for an environmental sound production. The results obtained and conclusion made in this
study can only be applicable to the properties of bricks produced under similar conditions and similar
raw materials.