Question 1. (a) What are the requirements of soil suitable for burning bricks?

Answer:

The suitability of soil for burning bricks depends on several factors to ensure the bricks to be strong, durable and of good quality. Below are the essential requirements soil suitable for burning bricks:

1. Clay content

In order to make soil suitable for burning bricks, it should have sufficient clay content in the range of (20 – 30%). It provides plasticity to the soil and it will help in moulding the brick and will help during burning of bricks.

2. Silt content:

The soil must contain silt in the range of (20 – 35%) which will increase the workability also.

3. Sand Content:

Sand content in soil also plays a vital part in brick making process, sand reduces shrinkage wile drying and burning bricks. Typically sand content should be within the range of (35 -50%) to make the soil suitable for burning.

4. Absence of harmful impurities:

To make soil suitable for burning bricks, it should be free from following impurities:

• Organic materials
• Salts like sodium chloride and magnesium sulphate.
• Lime nodules
• Mica.

5. Fire resistance:

The soil should contain minerals which can withstand the high temperature of kiln (900 – 1100°C)

To make the soil suitable for burning bricks, the above mentioned characteristics should be present in the soil.

Read more: 10 Best Civil Engineering Software in 2023