I tried treating 10mm recycled brick pieces with CaCo3 and it improved on the properties of water absorption and particle density a little bit. But it's not something that I'm happy about. What are the other chemicals that I can try? Later I will run the compressive tests etc. For now, I'm more focused on improving the density and reducing the water absorption. I have a fully equipped lab.
Dear Clare,
as recycled bricks are you speaking about “cocciopesto” ? If yes you can try different ways. Water repellent agent (silanes) together with good acrylic resin can reduce strongly the porosity so also water absorption. Other system can be the use of some silicate of potassium to make react silicon aluminates inside of these pieces , creating a harder crust , less porous for water.
It depends also from temperature of calcining that these bricks were burned (lower cooking means higher absorption) .
All best
Alex Reggiani
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Physical Sciences
- Energy