Molding properties of clay mixtures in the soft mud brick manufacture

The article reveals physical and mechanical characteristics of clay mixtures in the soft mud brick manifacture. Considering that currently Russia has no advisory or regulatory documents on the selection of raw materials for soft mud bricks and requirements for their physical and mechanical properties, this issue is quite relevant. The authors, based on their extensive practical experience, present data on acceptable ranges of clay mixtures deformation and critical compressive stress in the soft mud brick manufacture, as well as the results of studies on the influence of electrolyte additives on these indicators. The findings of how the mineral composition of clay raw materials and moisture con-tent influence the critical compressive stress and stickiness of clay mixtures are also presented. Thus, it has been experimentally established that the critical compressive stress of clay mixtures for soft mud bricks should be in the range of 0.2 – 0.8 kg/cm2, and the deformation degree of raw bricks should be in the range of 3 – 5 units. Moreover, even within such narrow limits, depending on their variation as well as on the method of molding and the composition of clay mixtures, it is possible to obtain differ-ent structures of the brick front surface: granular, tuberculate, grooved, wavy, corrugated, spotted, scaly, and their combinations. The moisture content of clay mixtures, depending on the type of clay raw material, can vary within very wide limits: from 20 to 38 per cent. The data obtained will make it possible to develop methods for selecting raw materials for soft mud bricks, which in turn will con-tribute to the organization of its wide production in various regions.