Industrial recycled fired clay brick waste aggregates as a sustainable component in masonry mortars: A multi-scale characterization
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study investigates the feasibility of partially replacing natural sand with industrial waste fired clay brick aggregates in mortar formulations. Five mortar mixtures—M-100S-0W, M-85S-15W, M-70S-30W, M-55S-45W, and M-0S-100W—were prepared with volumetric sand (S) substitutions by waste brick aggregates (W) of 0%, 15%, 30%, 45%, and 100%, respectively. The water-to-cement ratio was 0.5 for all mixtures. The fresh-state workability physical properties, as well as the mechanical, thermal, and microstructural characteristics of the hardened mortars, were evaluated after curing periods of 28, 90, and 180 days. The results show that increasing the brick aggregate content leads to an increase in total porosity due to the intrinsic porosity and high-water absorption of the aggregates. At 28 days, this higher porosity is accompanied by a decrease in mechanical strength, particularly in compressive and flexural strength. At the same time, mechanical strengths increase with curing age and may, in the long term, approach or exceed those of reference mortars, particularly at high substitution rates. Thermogravimetric analyses reveal an increase in chemically bound water and a decrease in portlandite over time, suggesting ongoing hydration reactions and pozzolanic interactions between the cement paste and fired bricks. The results indicate that recycled fired-brick aggregates constitute a viable alternative to natural sand in masonry mortars, taking into account the reduction in mechanical performance at early ages and their progressive improvement during the curing period.
Source: Results in Engineering
Language: English
Subfield: Building and Construction
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,940
OpenAlex ID: W7196936693