Firing temperature and firing time influence on mechanical and physical properties of clay bricks

The effects of firing time and temperature on compressive strength, water absorption, bending strength, weight loss, firing shrinkage and densities of clay bricks were determined. For a given clay and method of manufacture, higher compressive and bending strengths, higher density and lower absorptions are associated with higher firing temperatures. Increasing firing time only slightly altered the mechanical and physical properties of clay bricks. However, firing temperature significantly affected the physical properties. The results suggested that firing temperature was the key factor to modulate the physical properties in clay bricks. However, the effect of firing time was not significant. The results obtained in this study can only be compared to the properties of bricks produced under similar conditions with similar raw materials.