Performance characteristics of lateritic soil bricks fired at low temperatures: a case study of Cameroon

This work represents an effort to study the improvement of physical and mechanical properties of some Cameroonian lateritic soil bricks by stabilization through heat (at very low temperatures), with a view to finding their suitability for the construction of walls of simple houses. Contrary to previous studies which were focused on stabilization with additives (lime, cement, bentonite, etc.), no admixture is used here. The effect of homogenization obtained by crushing raw materials to reduce particle size, the cohesion of clay present in raw materials and the cementitious binder resulting from the transformation of some mineral phases at low temperatures have been exploited. The Laboratory test results are promising. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.