Effect of silica aerogel and rice husk ash on brick properties

Disposal of waste has become the biggest problem of both the country and the manufacturing companies. New ways and different solutions are constantly being sought to solve this problem. In recent years, the use of waste in the production of building materials has become a very good method for waste disposal. Scientific studies on this subject are increasing rapidly. In this study, it was aimed to investigate of the effect on the properties of bricks of silica aerogel and rice husk ash, which are agricultural wastes and obtained by burning rice husk. For this purpose, bricks were produced using different amounts of silica aerogel (0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5%) and rice husk ash (10%, 20% and 30%). Water-saturated unit volume weight, porosity, capillary water absorption, heat conduction coefficient determination, sulfate effect and compressive strength tests were applied to the produced brick samples. As a result of the study, it was determined that as the ratio of silica aerogel and rice husk ash increased, the water-saturated unit volume weight and porosity values increased, and the compressive strength and capillary water absorption decreased. In addition, it has been observed that increasing the amount of silica aerogel reduces the heat conduction coefficient, while increasing the substitution of rice husk ash increases the heat conduction coefficient. It was seen that some of the samples produced (B1, B2, B3 and B4) were in the medium strength brick class, and some samples (B5, B6 and B7) were in the low strength brick class. Moreover, rice husk ash and silica airgel are considered to be suitable substitute material for brick production and a good alternative for waste disposal.