See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: [Link]

net/publication/339570561

Methods of Processing Efflorescence of Clay Brick

Article · January 2020

CITATIONS READS

8 4,980

3 authors, including:

Hussein Talab
University of Babylon
25 PUBLICATIONS 47 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Hussein Talab on 28 February 2020.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Science
Volume 3, Issue 12, pp. 48-56, 2020. ISSN (Online): 2456-7361

Methods of Processing Efflorescence of Clay Brick

Hussein Talab Nhabih1*, Kareem Khalaf Arat2, Ali Saleem Haidi1
1
Babylon University, Faculty of Materials Engineering, Babil, Iraq
2
Directorate Hilla Municipality, Babil, Iraq

Abstract— The current work involves an experimental investigation of the efflorescence processing in clay brick. The experimental program
consists of forming and testing forty-two specimens. The main variables considered in this study were: the effect of using artesian wells water,
the amount of salts in the soil used, use silica fume, use dates vinegar, use kaolin, use waste glass powder and clay brick burning temperature
on the phenomenon of efflorescence. The second part of this study is concerned with how to remove the efflorescence after completion of
construction or during construction. From the results of this work, it was concluded that the average of efflorescence was reduced by a very
large percentage of about 92.02% when the addition of silica fume 15% of soil weight. It was found that the best technique to processing
efflorescence was used dates vinegar because this technique was highly decreased an average of efflorescence (about 89.69%), simple and cost-
effective. Also, the best efflorescence removal techniques were washing clay brick by using dates vinegar.

Keywords— Efflorescence, Clay brick, Silica fume, Dates vinegar, Waste glass powder.

[10]. The efflorescence affects the beauty of the facades of

I. INTRODUCTION buildings and especially the buildings of historic bricks such
Clay brick is still a basic material in construction work in as the ancient city of Babylon [11].
many countries, including Iraq. Bricks are considered to be The efflorescence in clay brick was initially explored in
important manufactured building materials and were known 1903 by Merrigan [12]. After that, several other investigations
[1]. The most used bricks in Iraq are clay bricks. This is made by Grogan and Conway [13], Beall [14], Robinson [15],
because of a number of factors, the most important of which is Grimm [16], Hurd [17] and London [18]. A good beginning
the availability of raw material almost everywhere, the cost of point is surely the paper from Bowler and Winter. Bowler
its small production, its strength, isolation of heat, its and Winter [19], were two of the first and possibly most
resistance to fire and atmospheric changes [2]. There are many significant contributions with regard the efflorescence in clay
problems in the manufacture of clay brick. One of the most brick. Okunade A. Emmanuel [20], studied The influence of
important of these problems is the Efflorescence that will be the addition of wood ash admixtures and sawdust (for burning
studied in this research [3]. out) to a seventy, thirty percentage by wt. clay. It was exposed
Efflorescence can be defined as a crystalline deposit of that the main the sawdust admixture contribution is the
soluble salts, generally white in color that appears on the decrease in the density of the burnt clay brick produce (as of
surfaces of clay brick [4]. The salts of efflorescence are 1750 kg/m3 for the blend without sawdust admixtures to 1510
generally potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron and calcium; kg/m3 for blend with 12% sawdust admixture). The wood ash
silicate; or carbonates of calcium and sodium; or sodium admixture was capable to give in attaining denser products by
bicarbonate. On the other hand, all soluble salt that finds its upper softening coefficients, upper compressive strengths, the
way into the materials may appear as efflorescence [5]. lesser absorpt- ion of water, lower efflorescence. Increasing
Efflorescence needs three conditions for it to happen [6], sawdust in blends shaped the reverse results in burnt clay
the presence of soluble salts in the materials, the presence of brick products. On the other hand, Xie Min [21], studied the
moisture to dissolve soluble salts, and take them to the surface manufacture of sintered clay brick by using fly ash and
and hydrostatic pressure or evaporation must reason the waterworks sludge as major raw materials with the adding of
solution to be in motion. Efflorescence cannot happen if any quartz sand and feldspar powder. The experimental results
one of these conditions is not present [7]. show that 65%- 75% of waterworks sludge can be utilized to
The efflorescence phenomenon has a significant impact on manufacture sintered clay brick. The compressive strength is
the performance and properties of clay brick in engineering upper than 25MPa and the absorption of water is about 25%
structures, the most important of which are most of the salts and the efflorescence is lower than 23%. Bilgin [22],
are salts of alkaline metals or sulphate and alkaline dust investigated that amounts of dust of marble additive had a
carbonate, although the chlorides sometimes appear with a positive influence on the efflorescence, physical, chemical,
small amount of efflorescence and the future effect of these and mechanical properties of artificial bricks. With the rising
salts is negative on the properties of bricks [8], resulting in demands of the building manufacturing, cost and quality of
cracking and fragmentation of the walls as a result and bricks become extra significant from day to day. In adding, the
transform it into a fragile material. The appearance of the salts practice of waste of marble for the manufacture of
on the bricks faces to the destruction of the terminations and manufacturing brick has a significant role in the recycling
the appearance of yellow spots [9]. The reaction of these salts marble waste in the clay brick manufacture along with a large
to the aluminate tricalcium in the cement and in the presence contribution to the economy and ecology of the country.
of water. This reaction is accompanied by an expansion of the This study planned to treatment efflorescence in locally
volume leading to the fragmentation of the cement's joints produced brick. The main aims of this research are studying

48
[Link]
All rights reserved
 International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Science
Volume 3, Issue 12, pp. 48-56, 2020. ISSN (Online): 2456-7361

the effect of dissolved salts in water and/or soil used in the The experimental results explained that it was adapted to the
manufacture of clay brick on the phenomenon of chemical and physical boundary of ASTM C1240-05 [24].
efflorescence. Also, processing efflorescence in brick by
adding silica fume or dates vinegar or kaolin or waste glass TABLE 3. Physical properties of silica fume [23].
powder at different ratios (5%, 10%, 15%) of the weight of Physical property Silica fume
Specific surface area , ( m2/ kg ) 24500
soil. Find out the effect of the change in the burn temperature Density ( kg / m³ ) 478
of clay brick on the phenomenon of efflorescence. Finally, Specific gravity 2.18
processing of the efflorescence post-construction operation by Color Gray dust
washing the brick building with dates vinegar.
2.1.4 Dates vinegar
II. EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM Dates vinegar is a fluid that is manufactured from the
2.1 Materials Properties fermentation of ethanol into acetic acid. The fermentation is
2.1.1 Soil approved out by bacteria. Dates vinegar consists of acetic
Table 1,2 explain the test results of chemical and physical (CH3COOH) [25]. Table 5 show the physical properties of
properties and chemical analysis of oxides of soil. dates vinegar [26].

TABLE 1. Chemical and physical properties of the soil TABLE 4. Chemical analysis of silica fume used in this work.
Properties of soil Values Oxides Content (%) Requirement of pozzolan ASTM C1240-05
Content of moisture % 23 SiO2 95.68 ≥ 85
Specific gravity 2.76 Al2O3 0.5 -
L.L% 32 Fe2O3 - -
Atterbeerg limit P.L% 19 Na2O - -
P.I% 13 CaO 1.30 -
Sand% 20 MgO 0.43 -
Grain size of soils Silt% 32 SO3 0.31 ≤4
Clay% 48 L.O.I 1.55 ≤6
Sulphate % 2.36
Gypsum% 3.12 TABLE 5. Physical properties of dates vinegar used [26].
Chloride% 0.15 Physical property Dates vinegar
Carbonate% 22 Density (g/ml) 1.01
Total soluble salts 0.019 Boiling point (degrees celsius) 100.6
PH 7.4 Freezing point (degrees celsius) –2
Organic matter% 0.44 pH 2.4

2.1.2 Water used 2.1.5 Kaolin

Water used in this work is brought from the (Al-Sadjad The used kaolin clay were brought in from the geological
brick plant). This plant uses the water of artesian wells to survey, which abound in Al-Gaara area of Al-Rutba city in Al-
manufacture clay brick. The reason for using this water in this Anbar province. Table 6 shows the physical properties and
study is to simulate the industrial reality of clay brick in this chemical analysis of kaolin [27, 28].
plant. The percentage of dissolved salts in this water and 2.1.6 Fine waste glass and coarse waste glass
distilled water was measured in the amount of 750 ppm (part Fine waste glass and coarse waste glass in diameter (0.5-2)
per million), 20 ppm, respectively. mm are obtained from the cool-drinks bottles which is formed
by grinding. The ground waste glass is taken to the laboratory
TABLE 2. Chemical analysis of soil oxides. for mixing with the clay to form bricks [29].
Oxides Content (%)
SiO2 33.67 TABLE 6. The physical properties and chemical analysis of kaolin used
Fe2O3 8.04 Physical analysis Kaolin %
Al2O3 11.91 Sand 8.5
TiO2 0.93 Silt 17
CaO 16.45 Clay 74.5
MgO 3.45 Chemical analysis Kaolin %
Na2O 1.90 SiO2 49.4
K2O 2.08 Al2O3 35.33
SO3 3.09 Fe2O3 1.24
CL 0.34 CaO -
P2O5 0.27 MgO -
L.O.I 17.87 SO3 0.14
L.O.I 13.89
2.1.3 Silica fume
Silica fume utilized was German manufacture bought from 2.2 Preparing and Description of Clay Brick Specimens
local markets in this work. Table 3 and Table 4 explain the Soil is cleaned well from the organic material and other
physical properties of silica fume utilized and its chemical materials, crushed ,Softened then additional the water by (19%
composition respectively (depending on the producer) [23]. of weight of soil) to give a mixture of acceptable plasticity.

49
[Link]
All rights reserved
 International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Science
Volume 3, Issue 12, pp. 48-56, 2020. ISSN (Online): 2456-7361

The specimens of brick were prepared by putting the mix with specimens were left for a time of seven days for the purposes
complete homogeneity, Manual compaction continued strong of ensuring the dry-out and ensure that for a crack in brick.
in a steel mold with dimensions of (1.875, 2.875, 6) cm Then placed in a furnace at a temperature (1000 °C ) for the
(height, width, length) respectively. These dimensions purpose of on fire it. The burning program was including the
represent a scale length of 1/4 of the dimensions of the real increasing of temperature by 500 ºC/h to burning temperature.
bricks (7.5, 11.5, 24) cm. The surfaces of the mold were Then the specimens were left at the burning temperature for
greased with special oils, at the fullness and access to the two hours at the stay time, then decreasing of temperature by
surface specimens the removal of surplus mix by using a piece 500 ºC/h. Table 7 explains the symbols of clay brick
of metal, then the surface well settled by (manually trowels), specimens.

a) b) c)

d) e)

Fig. 1. Materials used during this work a) Silica fume, b) Dates vinegar, c) Kaolin, d) Fine waste glass and e) Coarse waste glass.

TABLE 7. Symbols of tested clay brick specimens.

Symbols Refer to
A1, A2 Two specimens made of plant water + plant soil.
B1, B2 Two specimens made of distilled water + plant soil.
W1, W2 Two specimens made of plant water + Washed plant soil.
SF1, SF2 Two specimens made of plant water + plant soil+5% Silica Fume.
SF3, SF4 Two specimens made of plant water + plant soil+10% Silica Fume.
SF5, SF6 Two specimens made of plant water + plant soil+15% Silica Fume.
V1, V2 Two specimens made of plant water + plant soil+5% Dates Vinegar.
V3, V4 Two specimens made of plant water + plant soil+10% Dates Vinegar.
V5, V6 Two specimens made of plant water + plant soil+15% Dates Vinegar.
700C1, 700C2 Two specimens made of plant water + plant soil+ burnt at 700C◦.
900C1, 900C2 Two specimens made of plant water + plant soil+ burnt at 900C◦.
1100C1, 1100C2 Two specimens made of plant water + plant soil+ burnt at 1100C◦.
K1, K2 Two specimens made of plant water + plant soil+5% Kaolin.
K3, K4 Two specimens made of plant water + plant soil+10% Kaolin.
K5, K6 Two specimens made of plant water + plant soil+15% Kaolin.
FG1, FG2 Two specimens made of plant water + plant soil+5% Fine Waste Glass.
FG3, FG4 Two specimens made of plant water + plant soil+10% Fine Waste Glass.
FG5, FG6 Two specimens made of plant water + plant soil+15% Fine Waste Glass.
CG1, CG2 Two specimens made of plant water + plant soil+5% Coarse Waste Glass.
CG3, CG4 Two specimens made of plant water + plant soil+10% Coarse Waste Glass.
CG5, CG6 Two specimens made of plant water + plant soil+15% Coarse Waste Glass.

50
[Link]
All rights reserved
 International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Science
Volume 3, Issue 12, pp. 48-56, 2020. ISSN (Online): 2456-7361

4) After completing 3 layer coating and after leaving it for

the last day, sprinkle the brick with water and the work of
the spray using cement and water with a little sand.
5) The wall is ready to complete the finishing layers such.

Fig. 2. Forty-two clay brick specimens.

2.3 Efflorescence Test

Efflorescence test is made depending on ASTM C67–02c
[30]. Every two specimens in the same group are put on its
ends in a flat, small plastic container containing distilled water
for one week, and is additional the water when its dry to keep
the water depth is 0.6 cm, then left in the same room without
water for 3 days for the purposes of drying up, and a growth of
the efflorescence phenomenon, after that determined the sum
efflorescence area in every sample. The rate of the two
specimen test results for every group is taken. The ratio of
efflorescence is determined by follow law:-
Total areas of efflorescence
Efflorescence ratio %  100 (1)
Total areas of brick sides
2.4 Removal of Efflorescence
The second part of this study is concerned with how to
remove efflorescence after completion of construction or Fig. 3. Removal of efflorescence by using dates vinegar after completing 2
during construction. A field study has been conducted on layer coating
some of the work sites built with locally produced clay brick
that suffer from the phenomenon of efflorescence. The initial III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
step in the removal of efflorescence must be trying to identify 3.1 The Effect of Using Artesian Wells Water and the Salts in
the salt. If the salt is water soluble, the better removal the Soil
technique is with a dry brush. Washing with water or the usual Table 8 shows the efflorescence test results for A1, A2,
weathering process might be too effective. Alternatively, hand B1, B2, W1and W2 clay brick specimens to investigate the
rinsing by a stiff bristle brush and a mild detergent will often effect of the use of artesian wells water and the amount of
prove sufficient if the efflorescence is in limited areas or small salts in the soil utilized in the production of clay brick on a
patches. Washing by using dates vinegar may be needed for phenomenon of efflorescence. It can be noted from Table 8
some cases of efflorescence. But, forever soak the surface with and Fig. 4 that the average of efflorescence of two clay brick
water before utilizing dates vinegar in order to keep the specimens A1, A2 was 51.61%. This average of efflorescence
cleaner from penetrating into the brick and further opening is very high because the water of artesian wells contains a high
voids that encourage efflorescence. percentage of soluble salts and Iraqi soils contain a high
The steps of the processing efflorescence with the amount of the metal clisite and when treated thermally the
technique of washing the dates vinegar is explained as follows metal dissociates to free calcium oxide released carbon
and shown in fig. 3.:- dioxide and the latter leads to the generation of internal
1) The walls are cleaned using brooms to be swept from stresses and pathways and channels [31,32], which causes it to
above to below and equip the face of the wall to paint. get cracking sometimes, depending on the percentage of
2) Coating the walls with the solution (1 part dates vinegar: 8 calcium carbonate and its softness in the soil while the free
parts water) using the brushes of the pigment with all the calcium oxide reacts to the water vapor found in the
requirements of protection and safety because of the effect atmosphere absorbed by the brick forming calcium hydroxide
of the solution on the human body. because the last compound has the size of its molecules twice
3) Leaves the wall for a day and repaint again and so until the size of free calcium oxide molecules also causes stress and
completion 3 times with a day left between the coating leads to cracking and breaking in its location the
layer and the other. decomposition of soft, free calcium oxide molecules leads to

51
[Link]
All rights reserved
 International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Science
Volume 3, Issue 12, pp. 48-56, 2020. ISSN (Online): 2456-7361

increased weight loss during burning, causing low density, Table 8, Fig. 4 and Fig. 6, It can be noted that the average of
increased porosity, water absorption and low durability. efflorescence was reduced by a large percentage of about
Increased permeability facilitates the function of water 30.05% when the burning temperature of brick increased from
absorption, thus melting the soluble salts present in the brick 700C◦ to 1100C◦ because a raise in the burning temperature so
cavity and moving towards the surface causing what is known increases the phase of glassy of bunted brick bodies and
as the phenomenon of efflorescence. When the water of radically decrease a total pore volume in the brick bode and
artesian wells was replaced with distilled water used in the decrease in water absorption parameters and efflorescence.
manufacture of clay brick specimens B1, B2, the average of See Fig.5.
efflorescence was reduced by 30.13% due to the decrease in
the percentage of soluble salts. From the foregoing, it can be TABLE 8. Efflorescence test results for clay brick specimens.
concluded that using artesian wells in the clay brick industry Specimens Efflorescence Average of Decrease ratio in
No. % Efflorescence % Efflorescence %
causes a high amount of efflorescence to have a large amount A1 50.45
of dissolved salts. So it is not used in a clay brick industry. 51.61 -
A2 52.76
When the used soil was washed in clay brick specimens W1, B1 35.56
36.06 30.13
W2, the average of efflorescence decreased by 18.85% due to B2 36.55
the decrease in the amount of soluble salts found in the soil. A W1 42.67
41.88 18.85
W2 41.09
low rate of efflorescence decrease due to soil washing results SF1 12.95
in the loss of fine soil granules resulting in a large number of 12.42 75.93
SF2 11.89
pores in the clay brick produced, so the process of exit the SF3 10.04
9.96 80.70
dissolved salts of the brick surface is easy, which causes a SF4 9.88
high rate of the efflorescence phenomenon. See Fig. 5 SF5 4.66
4.12 92.02
SF6 3.57
3.2 The Effect of Using Silica Fume V1 18.27
19.43 62.35
V2 20.58
Table 8 shows the efflorescence test results for SF1, SF2, V3 16.81
SF3, SF4, SF5 and SF6 clay brick specimens to investigate the 15.58 69.81
V4 14.34
effect of using silica fume in different ratios (5%, 10%, 15%) V5 6.30
5.32 89.69
on the phenomenon of efflorescence. From Table 8, Fig. 4 and V6 4.33
Fig. 6, It can be observed that the average of efflorescence was 700C1 68.55
67.17 - 30.15
700C2 65.78
reduced by a very large percentage of about 92.02% when the 900C1 54.38
addition of silica fume 15% of soil weight and this decrease 53.91 - 4.46
900C2 53.44
ratio in efflorescence reduces at lower the percentage of silica 1100C1 48.22
47.66 7.65
fume added and the reason is that silica fume decrease the 1100C2 47.09
pores inside the clay brick at a temperature of 1000C◦ and thus K1 13.88
14.39 72.12
K2 14.90
less the water absorption of the clay brick and decrease of the
K3 9.99
average of efflorescence. K4 10.06
10.00 80.62
K5 4.88
3.3 The Effect of Using Dates Vinegar 5.25 89.83
K6 5.61
The dates vinegar has a noticeable effect on decreasing FG1 30.00
31.44 39.08
efflorescence by about 89.69% when it was added to the soil FG2 32.87
by about 15% of the soil weight as shown in Table 8, Fig. 4 FG3 25.86
26.54 48.58
FG4 27.22
and Fig. 6. The clay brick specimens with different addition
FG5 6.02
ratios (5%, 10%, 15%) for the dates vinegar (V1, V2, V3, V4, 5.73 88.90
FG6 5.44
V5 and V6) showed lower efflorescence when compared with CG1 40.02
41.29 20.00
the clay brick specimens without dates vinegar (A1, A2) by CG2 42.55
about (62.35%, 69.81% and 89.69%, respectively) because the CG3 36.19
35.80 30.63
dates vinegar reacts to the soluble salts found in the brick CG4 35.41
CG5 15.93
cavity and reduces the amount of those salts and thus CG6 13.61
14.77 71.38
decreases the efflorescence. From the experimental results
exposed in Fig.4 and Table 8, it can be noted that the best 3.5 The Effect of Using Kaolin
addition to the dates vinegar to reduce the efflorescence is The effect of changing the added ratios of kaolin on the
15%. See Fig. 5. phenomenon of efflorescence is presented in Table 8, Fig. 4,
3.4 Effect of Brick Burning Temperature Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. When treated thermally, Kaolin is
characterized by the loss of crystallized water, which is
The percent ratio of increase and decrease in average of approximately(15%) of its composition
efflorescence is presented in Table 8 for clay brick specimens
(700C1, 700C2, 900C1, 900C2, 1100C1 and 1100C2) when
compared with control clay brick specimens (A1, A2). From

52
[Link]
All rights reserved
 International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Science
Volume 3, Issue 12, pp. 48-56, 2020. ISSN (Online): 2456-7361

Fig. 4. Average of efflorescence results for clay brick specimens.

a) A1,A2 b) B1,B2 c) W1,W2 d) SF3,SF4

e) SF1,SF2 f) SF5,SF6 g) V1,V2 h) 700C1,700C2

i) V3,V4 j) V5,V6 k) 900C1,900C2 l) K3,K4

m) 1100C1,1100C2 n) K1,K2 p) K5,K6 q) FG5,FG6

r) FG1,FG2 s) FG3,FG4 x) CG1,CG2 y) CG3,CG4 z) CG5,CG6

Fig. 5. Efflorescence of clay brick specimens.

53
[Link]
All rights reserved
 International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Science
Volume 3, Issue 12, pp. 48-56, 2020. ISSN (Online): 2456-7361

Fig. 6. Decrease ratio in efflorescence for clay brick specimens.

where it works to lower permeability and absorb water with an

3.6 The Effect of Using Fine Waste Glass and Coarse Waste
increased burning heat that helps to decrease the percentage of
Glass
the efflorescence of the last to be associated with the bricks
permeability and its link to the concentration of dissolved The percent ratio of decrease in the average of
salts. From Table 8, Fig. 4 and Fig. 6, It can be observed that efflorescence is presented in Table 8 for clay brick specimens
the average of efflorescence was reduced by a very large (FG1, FG2, FG3, FG4, FG5, FG6, CG1, CG2, CG3, CG4,
percentage of about 89.83% when the addition of kaolin 15% CG5 and CG6) when compared with control clay brick
of soil weight and this decrease ratio in efflorescence reduces specimens (A1, A2). It can be observed that the average of
at lower the percentage of kaolin added and the reason is that efflorescence was reduced by a very large percentage 88.90%,
kaolin decrease the pores in the clay brick and thus less the 71.38% when the addition of fine waste glass 15% of soil
water absorption of the clay brick and decrease of the average weight or coarse waste glass 15% of soil weight, respectively.
of efflorescence. See Fig. 5. This decrease ratio in efflorescence reduces at lower the
percentage of fine or coarse waste glass added. Experimental
results show that the effect of fine waste glass in decreasing
the average of efflorescence is more than the effect of coarse

54
[Link]
All rights reserved
 International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Science
Volume 3, Issue 12, pp. 48-56, 2020. ISSN (Online): 2456-7361

waste glass. This can be attributed to the melting of fine waste 3. The average of efflorescence was reduced by a very large
glass faster than the coarse waste glass which causes the pores percentage 92.02% when the addition of silica fume 15%
in the brick to be blocked. of soil weight and the reason is that silica fume decrease
the pores inside the clay brick at a temperature of 1000C◦
3.7 Evaluation of the Best Technique for Processing
and thus less the water absorption of the clay brick and
Efflorescence
decrease of the average of efflorescence.
To select an appropriate technique for processing 4. The best technique to reduce the efflorescence of clay
efflorescence, the relative effectiveness of different techniques brick is to add the dates vinegar by 15% of the weight of
for processing efflorescence for improving the performance the soil, where the efflorescence decreased by about
(average of efflorescence, cost and simplicity in use) of clay 89.69% when added the dates vinegar in addition is an
brick are shown in Table 9. The least effective and the most easy and low cost technology.
effective alternatives were indicated with numbers 8 and 1, 5. The average of efflorescence was reduced a large
respectively for techniques to treatment efflorescence. It must percentage 30.05% when the burning temperature of brick
be reaffirmed that the objectives do carry unequal weights. increased from 700C◦ to 1100C◦ because a raise in the
The weight of every objective (decreasing an average of burning temperature so increases the phase of glassy of
efflorescence, cost and simplicity in use) was (50%, 30% and bunted brick bodies and radically decrease a total pore
20%), respectively. From Table 9, the best technique for volume in the brick body and decrease in water absorption
processing efflorescence in clay brick was used dates vinegar and efflorescence.
followed in a second place use silica fume followed in a third 6. The average of efflorescence was reduced by a very large
place use fine waste glass followed in a fourth place use kaolin percentage of about 89.83% when the addition of kaolin
followed in a fifth place use coarse waste glass followed in a 15% of soil weight.
sixth place use distilled water followed in a seventh place 7. Experimental results show that the effect of fine waste
increased burning temperature followed in the last place soil glass in decreasing the average of efflorescence is more
washing. than the effect of coarse waste glass. This can be attributed
to the melting of fine waste glass faster than the coarse
TABLE 9. Final evaluation of different techniques for processing
efflorescence.
waste glass which causes the pores in the bricks to be
Objectives blocked.
Techniques for Decreasing 8. The best technique for processing the efflorescence after
Simplicity Final
processing average of Cost
in use evaluation completion of construction or during construction is to
efflorescence efflorescence 30% wash the clay bricks by the dates vinegar or dipping the
20%
50%
Use distilled
bricks with water basins containing dates vinegar.
3 1.2 1.4 5.6
water
Soil washing 3.5 2.4 1.6 7.5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Use silica fume 0.5 1.5 0.4 2.4 Great thanks to the staff of the department of engineering
Use dates vinegar 1.5 0.3 0.2 2.0
of ceramic and building materials/ university of Babylon for
Increased burning
4 1.8 1.2 7.0 his assistance during the period of this work. Thanks to all my
temperature
Use kaolin 1.0 2.1 1.0 4.1 friends for their forceful encouragement during the progress of
Use fine waste
2 0.6 0.6 3.2
this work.
glass
Use coarse waste
2.5 0.9 0.8 4.2 REFERENCES
glass
[1] G.G.C. Ngapeya, D. Waldmann, F. Scholzen, Impact of the height
imperfections of masonry blocks on the load bearing capacity of dry-
IV. CONCLUSIONS stack masonry walls, Construction and Building Materials 165 (2018)
Depending on the experimental results of this study of the 898–913.
[2] S. A. Al-Mashhoda, M. B. Al-Samaani, Effect of rice husks on clay
tested clay brick specimens, the following main conclusions brick properties, Journal of Babylon University, Vol. 4, No. 5, 1999.
can be summarized:- [3] N. Bilgin, Use of waste marble powder in brick industry, Construction
1. Do not allow the use water of artesian wells in the and Building Materials., vol. (29), (2012) 449–457.
manufacture of local clay brick because of their high [4] H. Brocken, T.G. Nijland, White efflorescence on brick masonry:
towards prediction of efflorescence risk, 13th International Brick and
percentage of soluble salts that cause very high Block Masonry Conference Amsterdam, July, 2004.
efflorescence where the average of efflorescence is less [5] Brick Industry of America, Technical Note 23A, Efflorescence, Causes
than 30.13% when replacing artesian wells water with and Prevention, June 2006.
distilled water. [6] G.K. Bowler, N.B. Winter, Investigation into the causes of persistent
efflorescence on masonry, Masonry Int. 11, 15-18, 1997.
2. A low rate of efflorescence decrease by about 18.85% due [7] D. Benavente, M.A. Garcı´a del Cura, S. Ordo´n˜ez, Salt influence on
to soil washing results in the loss of fine soil granules evaporation from porous building rocks, Construct Building Mater
resulting in a large number of pores in the clay brick 17:113–122, 2003.
produced, which causes a high rate of the efflorescence [8] H. Brocken, T.G. Nijland, White efflorescence on brick masonry and
concrete masonry blocks, with special emphasis on sulphate
phenomenon. efflorescence on concrete blocks, Constr. and Build. Materials, in press,
2004.

55
[Link]
All rights reserved
 International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Science
Volume 3, Issue 12, pp. 48-56, 2020. ISSN (Online): 2456-7361

[9] W.E. Brownell, The causes and control of efflorescence on brickwork, [22] N. Bilgin, Use of waste marble powder in brick industry, Construction
Structural clay products institute, 1969. and Building Materials, Vol 29 , 449–457, ( 2012).
[10] C. Groot, Effect of water on mortar-brick bond., Ph.D. thesis, Delft [23] Silica fume Association (SFA) (Ed.), Silica Fume User’s Manual,
University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands, 1993. April,(2005).[Link]/concret-e [Link].
[11] J. W. Campbell, W. Pryce, Brick: a world history, London: Thames & [24] ASTM C 1240-05, Standard specification for silica fume used in
Hudson, 2003. cementitious mixtures, (2005), 1-7.
[12] M. W. Merrigan, Efflorescence: cause and control, Masonry, 1903. [25] T. Nakayama, Studies on acetic acid-bacteria I. Biochemical studies on
[13] J. C. Grogan, J. T. Conway, Masonry research applications and ethanol oxidation, J Biochem, 46 (9): 1217–25, 1959.
problems, ASTM , American Society for Testing and Materials [26] D. Bhagwan, J. L. Satin, Vinegar from Dates, Industrial & Engineering
,Philadelphia, PA, 1913. Chemistry, 28 (7), 814, 1986.
[14] C. Beall, Masonry design and detailing: for architects, engineers, and [27] M. Alshaaer, H. Cuypers, J. Wastiels, Stabilization of kaolinic soil for
contractors, McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York, 1948. construction purposes by using a mineral polymerization technique,
[15] G. C. Robinson, Testing for efflorescence. center for engineering Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Concrete
ceramic manufacturing, Clemson, SC, 1951. Technology for Developing Countries, 3, (2002), 1085-1092.
[16] C.T. Grimm, Water presence of masonry walls: a review of the [28] Y. Benachour, C. A. Davy, F. Skoczylas, H. Houari, Effect of a high
literature, masonry. materials, properties, and performance, designation calcite filler addition, upon micro structural, mechanical, shrinkage and
ASTM S7/ 778, American Society for Testing and Materials, transport properties of a mortar. Algeria. Elsevier Ltd. Cement and
Philadelphia, PA, 1982. Concrete Research, 38(6), (2008), 727-736.
[17] M. K. Hurd, Cleaning concrete, Concrete Construction, 1992. [29] M. Mageswari1, B. Vidivelli, The use of sheet glass powder as fine
[18] M. London, Masonry: how to care for old and historic brick and stone, aggregate replacement in concrete, The Open Civil Engineering Journal,
The Preservation Press, Washington, DC, 1998. 4, ,(2010), 65-71.
[19] G.K. Bowler, N.B. Winter, New form of salt staining on external [30] ASTM C67–02c, Standard test methods for sampling and testing brick
masonry, Br. Ceram. Trains. 95, 82-86, 1996. and structural clay tile, 2002.
[20] A. E. Okunade, The effect of wood ash and sawdust admixtures on the [31] K. A. Hooker, Reducing efflorescence potential, Understand how
engineering properties of a burnt laterite-clay brick, Journal of Applied efflorescence occurs, select materials to minimize soluble salts, and
Sciences, Asian Network for Scientific, ( 2008), 1042-1048. detail to control water penetration, The Aberdeen Group, All rights
[21] X. Min, Experimental study on the production of common sintered reserved, 2004.
bricks containing high volumes of waterworks sludge, International [32] Al-Khafaji B. T., Study of the properties of clay brick made with the
Conference on Computer Distributed Control and Intelligent addition of certain additives, Journal of Babylon University, Vol.(25),
Environmental Monitoring, (2011), 793-796. No.(5), 2017.

56
[Link]
All rights reserved

View publication stats