Features and technology for the production of adobe bricks

Raw (brick, which consists of clay and straw and is not fired during the production process) is quite common in those regions where the climate is hot, where it has been used for thousands of years. It can be used to build houses, outbuildings and other buildings.

The main advantage of a raw brick is its low cost. That is why such a building stone has been preferred for a long time. Everyone knows that clay can get soaked, and therefore a brick that is not fired has a high degree of water absorption. Therefore, this material is not used in places where the climate is humid or long winters.

Raw brick, in addition to cost, has a lot of additional advantages, among which are:

• good thermal insulation;
• excellent sound insulation;
• fire resistance.

This material can be made according to various recipes, but mainly pure clay is used for its production and, if necessary, various components are added to its composition, which improve the quality and characteristics of the finished product. Among these components are the following:

• shavings (increases the strength of the stone);
• straw (improves plasticity).

When preparing raw materials for production, it is important to correctly identify and select the desired grade of clay. It may differ in its characteristics depending on the location. It is usually located in the ground at a depth of 1 m. Extraction can be carried out on your territory, which will make the production of building material even cheaper. Clay can also be bought in quarries.

After cleaning from impurities, organic fillers (sawdust, straw, manure, etc.) are added to the clay. The components are mixed together with the addition of a small amount of water to make the composition viscous. Mixing is done in concrete mixers. When the mass becomes homogeneous, it is laid out in molds.

For the manufacture of bricks with chopped straw or shavings, various shapes can be used, which will be optimal in each case. But if it is necessary that the products do not differ in appearance from the store ones, then it is recommended to adhere to the standard parameters in the manufacture of forms - 25x12x6.5 cm.

To make the molds, you need to prepare the boards from which the side walls will be made, as well as plywood for the construction of the cover and bottom. Forms can be made single or with a different number of cells. In order for the manufacturing process to be continuous, it is necessary to prepare a sufficient number of forms. Also, when making the mold, it is necessary to take into account that the brick in it will dry out, and therefore, initially it should be about 10% more than the estimated volume, so that when the brick is dried, it turns out to be of standard sizes.

In handicraft production, a press is not used, therefore it is important to correctly develop the technology for forming raw bricks and filling out forms. This will simplify and speed up your work. Pre-form must be moistened with water and sprinkled with cement or clay. You can also use chalk or sand for this purpose. These compounds will help the brick to fall out of shape more easily.

In order for the bricks to be obtained with even corners, it is necessary to tightly fill the molds with raw materials, and then tamp the clay. To do this, use a shovel or trowel. Excess clay is removed, after which the mold is closed and shaken.

After that, it is necessary to remove the form, and the workpiece must remain in place for a while, until it dries up, so that it is not damaged when moving. It is better to install the finished bricks on a flat area, sprinkled with sand on top so that the material does not stick to the ground. The distance between individual bricks should be at least 3 cm so that they dry well.

The strength of the raw brick depends primarily on the correct drying of the product. Its appearance also depends on it. If the moisture evaporates unevenly, this will cause a violation of the geometry of the bricks, therefore, it is necessary to organize a long drying and this should be done under a canopy.

After the products have gained strength, they can be stacked, leaving small gaps between the rows for blowing. The height of such stacks is no more than 1 m. Each row is woken up with sand.

Drying times are different and depend on the following factors:

• drying mode;
• weather;
• quality of raw materials.

Since this brick can absorb moisture, its field of application is limited. External walls cannot be made of such bricks, since they will have to be additionally protected from external negative factors and moisture. Internal walls or partitions can be made of such material, which will be distinguished by good sound insulation and do not allow heat to pass through. Also, this material can be used to equip stoves in the house.

You will learn about the technology for the production of raw brick from the video.