At an international level, enormous volumes of construction and demolition wastes are generated: 170 million tons/year in the USA, 500 million tons/year in the European Union (EU) and 12 million tons/year in Mexico. Alternative uses for these heterogeneous materials, such as the manufacture of sustainable bricks, are potential solutions to this growing environmental issue. Based on previous studies, and in compliance with Mexican standards, four different types of secondary materials were utilized in the composition of a sustainable brick matrix. Temperature and solar radiation used for drying purposes were determined, as well as weight loss, resistance and initial maximum absorption. In order to characterize the resulting matrix, observations were made with a scanning electron microscope, and the chemical composition of the samples was determined by detecting basic compounds using mapping through SEM-EDS microanalysis, connected to the SEM unit. Finally, thermogravimetric analyses were performed to correlate mechanical and chemical behavior, and resistance to high temperatures of the mixtures. The results obtained showed that all-in-one (AiO) is the most appropriate material for brick manufacturing, Opuntia ficus-indica mucilage improves physical properties, such as increased compressive strength and reduced water absorption, while wood residues, clay minerals and illite enhance mechanical properties.

Peer Reviewed