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An assignment on
“Characteristics, Classification and Uses of Bricks”

Course code: FES-343

Submitted to-
Rahela Khatun
Lecturer, DFES, SUST.
Submitted by-Group-2
Reg no-
2017631008
2017631009
2017631013
2017631015
2017631028
2017631036
2017631048

2017631074

Department of Forestry and Environmental Science

Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Sylhet.
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Table of Contents
1 Bricks ..............................................................................................................................................3
2 Factors affects the Bricks quality .......................................................................................................3
3 Components of Brick Clay .................................................................................................................3
3.1 Silica .........................................................................................................................................4
3.2 Alumina ....................................................................................................................................4
3.3 Iron Oxide .................................................................................................................................4
3.4 Magnesia ..................................................................................................................................4
3.5 Lime .........................................................................................................................................4
3.6 Alkalis and Organic Matters........................................................................................................4
4 Harmful Constituents of Brick-Clay ....................................................................................................5
5 Manufacturing of Bricks ...................................................................................................................5
6 Characteristics of Good Bricks...........................................................................................................5
7 Field tests of Bricks ..........................................................................................................................6
8 Classification of Bricks ......................................................................................................................6
9 Some special bricks ..........................................................................................................................8
10 Uses of Bricks:.............................................................................................................................. 10
11 Surki............................................................................................................................................ 10
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Bricks
1 Bricks
Bricks are one of the oldest and most popular
building materials. Those are artificial stone which
are made of clay. Brick can be defined as,
“Bricks are blocks of tampered clay moulded to
suitable shapes and sizes while it is still in plastic
condition, dried in the sun and burnt, if desired so as
to make them more strong, hard and durable.”
The main characteristics of bricks are-
✓ They have to have plasticity when wet.
✓ They have to attain stone like hardness after
being heated to high temperature.

2 Factors affects the Bricks quality

1. Chemical properties of the clay used.
2. Preparation of the clay.
3. Process of drying,
4. Different degrees of burning.

3 Components of Brick Clay

A good brick clay is a mixture of pure clay and sand. When that will be prepared with water, it can
easily be molded and dried without cracking or warping. A good brick clay mixture must contain
some component in a fixed ratio. These are shown below:

Silica 55%
Alumina 30%
Iron oxide 8%
Magnesia 5%
Lime 1%
Organic matter 1%
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3.1 Silica
Formation of silicate of alumina is the result of chemical combination of
silica with alumina in clay. Silica stays in sand as free state. Sand prevents
cracking and warping and give a fine shape and texture in the brick. But
excessive proportion of sand can make brick brittle and weak.

3.2 Alumina
Aluminum oxide is the main component of brick clay. It gives density
and plasticity to clay which is very important of molding. But too
much use of alumina can cause warping during drying process.

3.3 Iron Oxide

Iron oxide gives durability and impermeability to the bricks. Little
ammount of iron and lime gives a creamy color to the bricks. The color
of brick can be tends to red to purple as the iron content goes up 8%.

3.4 Magnesia
Presence of little amount of magnesium oxide decreases the shrinkage
and gives a yellow tint.

3.5 Lime
Lime reduces shrinkage during drying and helps to melt the silica so that
all particles can bind together. Excess quantity of lime will cause the
brick to fuse too readily and the shape will be lost. Lime should be
present in a very finely divided state. Because, if present in the form of
lumps it is very harmful to bricks, because on burning it becomes quick
lime and absorbs moisture causing disintegration.

3.6 Alkalis and Organic Matters

Small amount of organic matter is beneficial in burning bricks but excessive quantity is harmful
because these will not burn completely and brick become porous. Small amount of alkalies will
lower the fusion point of clay.
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4 Harmful Constituents of Brick-Clay

1. Iron Pyrites: It causes crystallization and disintegration of bricks on burning.
2. Alkalies: They are mainly the chlorides and sulfates of calcium, magnesium, sodium and
potassium. They produce a dark greenish hue on the Surface of bricks on drying. They cause the
bricks to fuse, twist, and warp during. Alkalies in bricks absorb moisture from and on drying cause
efflorescence.
3. Stone particles: Even a very small particle of stone is not allowed in mixture of clay. They can
harm the texture and brick will become porous and weak.
4. Vegetation and organic matter: During burning, these will leave a vacant inside the brick and
brick will become porous and weak.
5. Lime: Lime in the form of limestone and kankar nodules is very harmful and cause serious
troubles to bricks. Because due to high heating, limestone (CaC03). is converted into lime (Cao).
and carbon-di-oxide (C02). On contact with water, lime gets hydrated and swells and causes the
bricks to split and crumble to pieces Limestone in the form of kankar nodules should not be present
because it deteriorates the quality of a good brick.

5 Manufacturing of Bricks
There are few steps in manufacturing bricks:
1. Selection of brick-clay.
2. Preparation brick-clay.
3. Molding.
4. Drying.
5. Burning.

6 Characteristics of Good Bricks

1. Bricks should be uniform in color, size and shape.
2. They should be sound and compact.
3. They should be free from cracks and other flaws such as air bubbles, stone nodules etc.
4. They should not absorb more than 1/5 of their own weight of water when immerged in water
for 24hours (15 to 20% dry wt.).
5. The compressive strength of bricks should be in the range of 5000 to 8000 psi.
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6. The percentage of soluble salts (sulphates of calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium)
should not exceed 2.5% in burnt bricks, because the presence of excess soluble salts causes
efflorescence.
7. They should be neither overburnt or underburnt.
8. They weight should be generally 6 lbs per brick and the weight per cu ft should not be less than
125 lbs.
9. They should have low thermal conductivity as it is desirable than the buildings built of them
should be cool in summer and warm in winter.
10. They should be non-inflammable and incombustible.
11. Bricks should not change in volume when wetted.

7 Field tests of Bricks

1. Try to make a nail mark. If possible then it is a bad brick and vice versa.
2. Strike with a hammer. If returns a clear metallic noise then it is a good brick and vice versa.
3. Take to brick form a T drop from a height of 6 ft on solid ground. If breaks then it is not good
quality brick and vice versa.

1 1 3
Size of Bricks: 9 2 × 4 2 × 2 4 according to Public Work Development (P.W.D.)

8 Classification of Bricks
According to P.W.D. in our country, the classification of bricks is given below:

1. First Class Bricks:

They should be of uniform size and color. They need
to thoroughly and evenly burnt. They should ring
clearly when struck. They should be well shaped with
even surfaces and without cracks, rain spots or flaws of
any kind. They should not absorb more than one sixth
of their weight of water when wet in water for 24 hours.
These are premium bricks, and they are molded by
table-molding and burnt in large kilns. Therefore, these
bricks contain standard shape, sharp edges, and smooth
surfaces. These are costly as compare to other classes.
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2. Second Class Bricks:

These bricks must possess the hardness and color of first-class
bricks. But they are slightly irregular in shape, size and rough
and bumpy on the surface. Does not have any sharp corners.
Their strength and durability are equal to first class bricks but
cost is less than first class. Although they have similarity in
quality with first class but they are not visibly as good as first
class.

3. Third Class Bricks:

It is known by the name; these are poorer quality bricks.
These bricks are not sufficiently well-burnt. They are used in
inside creativity. These are cheap so these things are used in
irrelevant and temporary structures. Not suitable in the places
where heavy rainfall occurs.

4. First Class Bats:

These are broken bricks. These are generally broken pieces
of first class and second-class bats.

5. Second Class Bats:

These are broken bricks of the same quality as third-class
bricks.
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6. Picked Jhama Bricks:

These bricks are uniformly vitrified throughout, but must be
of good shape, heavy and of selected quality. They must not
be spongy.

7. Jhama Bricks:
These are well- burnt bricks but not quite so well shaped as
picked jhama bricks. They must not be spongy and must be
free from cinders and projecting lumens and of fairly good
shape.

8. Jhama Bats:
These are broken bricks of the classes picked jhama and
jhama bricks.

9 Some special bricks

Bricks are mainly made in rectangular in shape. But for some specific situation, various shaped
bricks are also made for suiting the situation. These bricks are generally costlier than others.
These are:
(1) Perforated bricks used in building walls.
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(2) Hollow bricks used in hollow walls in building.

(3) Checkered bricks, used in bricks masonry.

(4) Stable bricks (with grooved panels).

(5) Plinth bricks.

(6) Jam bricks-bricks chamfered and rounded to the desired shape at

one corner.
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(7) Klinkner (paving brick) for internal flooring.

10 Uses of Bricks:
1. Construction of walls of any size.
2. Construction of floors.
3. Construction of arches and cornices.
4. Making khoa (broken bricks of required size) to use as an aggregate in concrete.
5. Manufacture of surki (powdered bricks) to be used in lime plaster and lime concrete.
6. Bricks are used as building blocks
7. Bricks are used for lining of ovens, furnaces and chimneys.
8. They are used for protecting steel columns from fire.
9. Bricks are used as aggregates in providing water proofing to R.C.C roofs.
10. Bricks are used for pavers for footpaths and cycle tracks
11. Bricks are used for lining sewer lines.

11 Surki
Surki are made from pounded or grinded brick. These should be clear from foreign matters.
These should be Pass through No. 8 sieve. These are collected from well burnt brick- used as a
substitute of sand. Also collected from half burnt brick- Used to prepare lime mortar.
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12 Conclusion
Bricks are one of the key ingredients for any construction. Differences between different kind of
bricks can bring a huge amount change in the durability and quality of any constructed structure.
So, it is important to have knowledge about it. And it is important that apply the most suitable
one. So that we can attain the sustainability.
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13 References:

1. Your slides and provided course materials.

2. A book of “Engineering materials” Dr M A Aziz.
3. https://www.asanduff.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-using-bricks-in-
construction/
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brick
5. https://www.asanduff.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-using-bricks-in-
construction/
6. https://civiltoday.com/civil-engineering-materials/brick/191-types-of-bricks
7. https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Types_of_brick
8. https://civilseek.com/types-classification-of-bricks/
9. Google photos