The effects of tea waste additive on the physical and mechanical characteristics of structural unfired clay bricks.

Food waste raises severe concerns all around the globe. Thus, several researchers employed various food waste additives in the earthen matrix to improve their performance, decrease energy consumption, and efficient waste management. Therefore, this study evaluates the Tea Waste (T.W.) additive in producing unfired clay brick by adding different ratios in the brick clay mixtures 2.5 %, 5 %, 7.5 %, and 10 % of the weight. Samples were prepared and dried under natural laboratory conditions at 20^o C for 7 days until weight and shrinkage stabilization, followed by oven-dried for 48 h at 60 ^oC. Several tests were performed to examine the physical and mechanical characteristics of the samples, including flexural strength, density, compressive strength, linear shrinkage, capillary water absorption, thermal conductivity, and the U.P.V. The results demonstrated that porosity and shrinkage slightly increased. While density, flexural strength, and compressive strength values decrease. In addition, the thermal conductivity increased depending on the T.W. content. In addition, samples containing 2.5 % and 5 % of T.W. give better compressive strength results above 3.5 MPa, which is the least limit required according to the Indian standards IS 1077, while T.W. additive of 7.5 % and 10 % did not fulfill the standard's strength requirement and therefore could be used for isolation only due to the increased amount of porosity that improves the thermal conductivity. The results indicated that samples with suitable mechanical and physical properties could achieve a suitable amount of T.W. it is recomenned that the porous structure of the clay brick body impacted the clay brick's properties and can be an effective alternative to porosity makers for lightweight insulating brick production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]