Experimental investigation of the impact of wood sawdust incorporation on the physical and thermal properties of fired clay bricks

Wood sawdust, a byproduct of the wood industry, presents significant environmental and economic challenges due to its disposal. This study investigates the effects of incorporating wood sawdust into fired clay bricks on their physical and thermal properties. Five different clay and wood sawdust mixtures, labeled S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5, were prepared with sawdust proportions of 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%, respectively. Both the clay and wood sawdust were subjected to comprehensive physical and chemical testing. Three samples from each mix were analyzed for bulk density, porosity, and thermal properties. The results show that the inclusion of wood sawdust significantly impacted the physical, and thermal properties of the bricks. As the sawdust proportion increased, the bulk density of the bricks decreased, while porosity increased. Moreover, the thermal properties of the bricks were notably enhanced with the addition of wood sawdust, indicating its potential to improve the thermal insulation performance of fired clay bricks. These findings suggest that incorporating wood sawdust into clay bricks could offer a sustainable solution to both enhancing their thermal efficiency and addressing waste disposal challenges.