Study of the effect of adding Portland cement on the thermal insulation of compressed earthen bricks produced from the Daquq area - South of Kirkuk - Northwest of Iraq

Abstract

Earthen bricks are a common building material in developing countries, where more than 50% of the people live. They are cost-effective, have high thermal insulation, and are abundant in raw materials. Portland cement, a good stabilizer, was added to improve the thermal conductivity of compressed earthen bricks. The study aimed to investigate the effect of adding Portland cement on the thermal insulation of compressed earthen bricks in the Daquq area, northeastern Iraq. The study included laboratory tests of raw materials for producing earthen bricks, including water content, dry density, Atterberg limits, specific gravity, particle size, and chemical tests. The soil was prepared by mixing 6 kg of soil with 12% water content, and 0.20 g of Portland cement, then manufacturing bricks under a pressure of 15 MPa according to international specifications. The results showed that the soil is suitable for producing compressed earthen bricks. Compressed earthen bricks had the highest water retention of any type, while other types had very low water retention due to their interaction with water or expulsion. The thermal conductivity results of the compressed earthen bricks without addition were less than the thermal conductivity value of the bricks with added Portland cement.