Suitability of termite clay powder as a partial replacement of cement in the production of Lateritic Soil–Cement brick

Abstract

An investigation was conducted to explore the possibility of partial replacement of cement with termite clay powder (TCP) in stabilizing lateritic soil-cement bricks. This was achieved through some set of objectives which include determination of chemical composition and physical properties of TCP, optimum percentage replacement of cement with TCP, compressive strength and durability test of lateritic soil-cement/TCP brick. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric method was used to determine the chemical composition of the powder including loss on ignition. Brick samples were produced using twin compressed earth machine and replacement levels of 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% of cement with TCP were used with mix proportions of 1:12 and 1:18.All the brick samples were cured in water and tested for 7, 14, 21, and 28 days using compressive strength testing machine. The results obtained, however, were compared with relevant standards of compressed earth bricks. The test revealed a maximum compressive strength of 2.59 N/mm2 and 2.09 N/mm2 at 28 days with 10% replacement of cement with TCP for mix ratios of 1:12 and 1:18 respectively. Abrasion and moisture penetration tests were conducted on lateritic soil-cement/TCP brick samples to determine durability which showed greater resistance to mechanical erosion using wire brush at lower replacement of cement with TCP and exhibited poor resistance to moisture penetration at all levels of replacement. Considering all clay bricks made with 10% replacement level using 1:12 mix ratio with maximum compressive strength can be recommended for use in non-load bearing walls as indoor structure.