Journal of BIMP-EAGA Regional Development. Volume 6. No. 1.
2020
ISSN 2232-1055
PERFORMANCE AND PROPERTIES OF ECO-FRIENDLY CEMENT
BRICKS ADDED WITH POLYESTER FABRIC WASTES
Francis Denrick Lanante, Christian Lloyd E. Tambis, Geselle, C. Bacunawa, Marianne Agnes T.
Mendoza, Jeruel A. Espinazo, and Loudie B. Suliva
Department of Civil Engineering, Biliran Province State University, Biliran, Philippines 6560
5070014
Email: rso@bipsu.edu.ph
ABSTRACT
With brick a common construction material, there is a shortage of sources for making bricks.
Fabric wastes can serve as replacement for a portion of brick aggregates both for
practicality and sustainability. This is especially since the fashion industry has been known to
contribute to negative environmental impacts. This paper describes the materials and
methods as well as properties of eco-friendly cement bricks added with polyester fabric
wastes. The eco-friendly bricks were compared to traditional cement bricks in terms of
physical and mechanical properties. Traditional bricks were prepared at a ratio of 1:5 of
cement to sand while eco-friendly bricks were prepared at a ratio of 1:5:1 of cement to sand
to fabric wastes. All the methods used in this study were based on the standards set by the
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM, 2006). Statistical analysis using t-test
revealed that both bricks were comparable in terms of physical properties of mass (kg)
(t=1.780, p=0.086), bulk density (kg/m3) (t=1.780, p=0.086), and water absorption
percentage (%) (t=–0.336, p=0.740) as well as mechanical properties of maximum load (kN)
(t=1.000, p=0.326) and compressive strength (Mpa) (t=1.000, p=0.326) with results having
no significant differences in their means. In terms of cost, eco-friendly bricks are cheaper by
Php 3.00 than traditional bricks. Eco-friendly cement bricks added with polyester fabric
wastes can therefore serve as viable alternative for traditional bricks. Additional testing such
as in situ testing can be conducted to determine practical applications of the eco-friendly
bricks added with fabric wastes in non-load bearing walls for instance.
Keywords: eco-friendly, masonry bricks, fabric wastes, universal testing machine
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Brick is one of the oldest and widely used construction materials around the world
(Phonphuak and Chindaprasirt, 2015). Historically, the usefulness of mixing together stones,
sand, and some form of binder or cement to form concrete has been recognized since Stone
Age times (Sims et al., 2019). In the Philippines, conventional bricks are made with high
temperature kiln firing from ordinary Portland cement concrete, thus, have high embodied
energy and large carbon footprint (Zhang, 2013).
In many parts of the world, there is a shortage in natural source materials for conventional
brick production. Natural resources have been depleted due to industrialization and
economic progress, and the growth of the construction industry is an inevitable component
of this (Cabreza et al., 2019). Annually, building construction in the world consumes 25% of
the global wood harvest; 40% of stone, sand, and gravel; and 16% of water (Joseph and
Tretsiakova-McNally, 2010).
To develop bricks as a form of sustainable construction material, there is a need to integrate
it with waste materials such as that from agriculture and other industries (Phonphuak and
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Chindaprasirt, 2015). Various literature have established the viability of this. To point a few,
we have.
The global fashion industry has been established to produce highly negative outcomes for
the environment, making clothing one of the highest impact industries on the planet (Pal
and Gander, 2018). Pollution occurs in the production of the final good when polluting
intermediates are used (Benarroch and Weder, 2006). Specifically, due to wasteful usage of
fabric within conventional pattern cutting, clothing manufacturing processes have created a
cut-and-sew waste problem (Enes and Kipoz, 2019).
Concrete bricks with fabric wastes can be a type of green and eco-friendly product that has
the potential to create buzz for environmental enthusiasts and business investors. It solves
both the problem of depleting source materials for brick manufacture and minimizes
wastage from the fashion industry.
This is especially since the use of environment-friendly building materials and technology
has grown impetus as part of the emerging concept of green economy. In the Philippines,
the Green Jobs Act or Republic Act 10771 in support of the concept of the green economy
was recently signed into law in 2016. As such, masonry materials can be developed and
integrated with wastes to serve as viable solution not only to environmental pollution but
also to add to the economy of building designs.
Objectives
The primary purpose of the study was to describe the materials and methods used to
produce cement bricks added with fabric wastes. Specific objectives were as follows:
1) Evaluate the physical properties of cement bricks added with fabric wastes;
2) Assess the mechanical properties of cement bricks added with fabric wastes; and
3) Compare cement bricks added with fabric wastes with traditional bricks.
2.0 METHODOLOGY
All the methods used in this study were based on the standards by American Society for
Testing and Materials (ASTM, 2006).
A total of 1 kg of polyester cotton fabric waste materials were collected from the local
garments shop in the area. The fabric wastes were separated by its fabric strings and were
cut to one inch in length using scissors.
The fabric waste materials were thoroughly mixed with ordinary Portland cement (OPC) as
binder and locally available river sand as fine aggregate at a ratio of 1:5:1, respectively, to
produce bricks with a volume of 0.0015 m3. This is a common local construction site ratio.
Water was added at an equal ratio to cement. Bricks were cast using a wooden mold with a
dimension of 11 cm W x 22 cm L x 7 cm D. Water correction was done by sprinkling water
uniformly to all samples. Bricks were compacted by pounding 25 times using a 5-cm-
diameter stick and tapping all sides to remove voids and to achieve samples with smooth
sides. After one (1) day, bricks were removed from the mold. Bricks were then cured for
seven (7) days at atmospheric temperature.
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Cement bricks added with fabric wastes were compared to traditional bricks, which were
made from 1:5 ratio of cement to sand. Fifteen (15) brick samples of each treatment were
made. The following data were gathered:
1) Mass (kg). Measured by weighing the bricks in a digital weighing scale.
2) Bulk density (kg/m3). Computed using the following formula:
M
Bulk Density =
V
where:
M = mass unit in kg
V = volume in m3
3) Saturated mass (kg). Bricks were immersed in water for 24 hours, removed, and
wiped thoroughly with cloth. Bricks were then weighed to obtain the saturated
mass.
4) Dry mass (kg). After measuring the saturated mass, bricks were baked in an
oven for 2 hours at 150 °C. After which, bricks were allowed to cool at room
temperature for 2 days. Dry mass was obtained by weighing the bricks.
5) Water absorption (%). This was computed using the following formula:
A−B
Absorption % = x 100
B
where:
A = saturated mass in kg
B = dry mass in kg
6) Maximum load (kN). Bricks were placed on a steel plate on the Universal Testing
Machine (UTM) (Figure 1), and maximum load was applied on top of the brick
surface at a constant rate until failure occurs. The load shown on the UTM was
recorded.
7) Compressive strength (Mpa). This was computed using the following formula:
L
Compressive Strength =
A
where:
L = maximum load (kN)
A = area mm2 (constant of 21372.57 mm2 per brick)
Means and standard deviations were obtained for the two (2) treatments in all of the above
parameters. Means were compared using independent t-test. Difference in costs of the two
types of bricks were also computed.
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Figure 1. Universal testing machine used in obtaining data on the mechanical properties of
the two (2) types of bricks
3.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
The global fashion industry has been known to produce highly negative outcomes for the
environment (Pal and Gander, 2018). For instance, the authors cite that high water usage,
pollution from chemical treatments used in dyeing, and preparation and the disposal of large
amounts of unsold stocks through incineration or landfill deposits combine to make clothing
one of the highest impact industries on the planet. This has led to rise in the research about
fashion industry pollution and sustainable technologies. Blasi, Brigato, and Sedita (2020), for
instance, explored the convergence between the concepts of fashion and eco-friendliness in
consumer perception of a fashion brand. Aivazidou and Tsolakis (2019) identified emerging
trends in the clothing industry and their impact on freshwater resources and researched
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challenges and opportunities for water footprint management across apparel supply chains.
Benarroch and Weder (2006) examined the relationship between intra-industry trade in
intermediate products, pollution, and increasing returns.
The history of forming concrete by mixing stones, sand, and a form of binder dates back as
far as the Stone Age (Sims et al., 2019). The earliest bricks utilized as masonry structure
were sun-dried mud bricks recorded at least 10,000 years (Ingham et al., 2013). The
application of bricks extend beyond masonry structures as they are also being used for
aesthetic and decorative purposes (Ingham, 2013).
Studies modifying bricks and integrating other materials have increased in the recent years
either to enhance performance, reduce cost, increase sustainability, or a combination of
these. For instance, Barros et al. (2020) investigated the viability of using dimension stone
(limestone) waste by mixing them with polyester resin to produce a new type of ecological
brick, in the model of soil-cement bricks. Limestone/polyester composites were compounded
in ratios of 70/30, 80/20, 85/15, and 90/10 (weight percentage). The amount of curing
agent (methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, MEKP) used for each composition was 0.6, 0.4, 0.3,
and 0.2 mL, respectively. The 70/30 composite presented the highest compressive strength,
with a value of approximately 54 MPa, followed by 80/20, 85/15, and 90/10. The 90/10
composite, despite presenting a lower result than the other composites, achieved the value
required by the standard at 600%, and its use will imply a lower cost due to the use of only
10% resin, plus the benefit of 90% waste no longer discarded in the environment.
El-naggar et al. (2019) prepared geopolymer insulating bricks from aluminum trimming
waste collected from workshops, powder residue obtained from clay brick production, and
slaked lime waste from acetylene production. In addition, de-aluminated kaolin waste from
the alum industry was used as binding agent, substituting the clay bricks waste part. It was
found that using 5% (by weight) aluminum trimmings as well as substituting 15% of clay
bricks waste by de-aluminated kaolin raised the porosity to above 50%, thus making light
bricks of densities in the 1000 kg.m−3 range. It was noted that the compressive strength of
these bricks was about 1.4 MPa with their thermal conductivity as low as 0.26 W.m−1.K−1.
Manzur et al. (2019) tested microbiologically induced calcite precipitate (MICP) to enhance
the performance of brick aggregate concrete. MICP using indigenous urease positive
bacteria collected from soil showed promising results in initial researches. The authors used
two (2) incubation periods of 24 hours and 48 hours for bacterial culture. Absorptiometric
method was used to examine population growth of bacteria due to varying incubation period.
Results of the study showed that 48 hours incubation was more effective than 24 hours. The
longer incubation resulted in almost twofold reduction in aggregate absorption test.
Ozturk et al. (2019) used tea waste (TW) at different concentrations in the brick clay
mixtures to examine its effects on baked brick properties. In addition to micro-structure
investigations, physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of bricks produced were
investigated. It is concluded that tea waste additive up to 10% in brick body can be used for
structural application and isolation while ratios more 10% tea waste additive for only
isolation purposes. Tea wastes can be used as a pore-making additive in the brick
production.
Zhang et al. (2019) upgraded waste poplar fiber into wooden brick as a green, eco-friendly
strategy for waste wood-recovery and construction industry. They recycled waste poplar
fiber into biomass brick with calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) as the adhesive. To study
interaction mechanism between poplar fiber and Ca(OH)2, a series of tests were employed,
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including scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, nuclear
magnetic resonance, and others. Poplar fiber and Ca(OH)2 connected with each other tightly
through the generated calcification, and poplar fiber played supporting and connecting role
through the generated calcification, contributing to compressive strength of the wooden
brick.
4.0 FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
Figure 2 shows the eco-friendly cement bricks with fabric waste. The table below compares
the means for the eco-friendly bricks with fabric wastes and traditional cement bricks.
Figure 2. Eco-friendly cement brick integrated with fabric waste produced
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Table 1. Comparison of the physical and mechanical properties of eco-friendly and
traditional cement bricks
Ratio N Mean Std. t Sig. (2-
Deviation Tailed)
Mass (kg) 1:5 15 2.35 0.1910796 1.780 0.086
1:5:1 15 2.24 0.1559518
Bulk Density 1:5 15 1569.33 127.3864262 1.780 0.086
1:5:1 15 1493.78 103.9678420
Saturated Mass 1:5 15 2.71 0.17476 0.256 0.800
(kg) 1:5:1 15 2.70 0.13654
Dry Mass (kg) 1:5 15 2.47 0.1271370 0.320 0.752
1:5:1 15 2.45 0.2061368
Water Absorption 1:5 15 9.73 2.7924186 -0.336 0.740
Percentage (%) 1:5:1 15 10.24 5.3368293
Maximum Load 1:5 15 42.29 5.7845066 1.000 0.326
(kN) 1:5:1 15 40.32 5.0078616
Compressive 1:5 15 1.98 0.2706510 1.000 0.326
Strength (Mpa) 1:5:1 15 1.89 0.2343126
Physical Properties
In terms of mean mass, the eco-friendly cement bricks with fabric waste was lighter by 0.11
kg from the traditional bricks. This result is expected since sand, which is composed mostly
of quartz has a specific gravity of 2.65 to 2.67 and Portland cement, 2.90 to 3.15. Since a
portion of sand and cement was replaced in our eco-friendly bricks with polyester fabric
wastes, which has a lower specific gravity of 1.38 to 1.40, you can expect the eco-friendly
bricks to be lighter. According to Taurino et al. (2019), lightweight bricks with reduced
thermal conductivity of acceptable physical-mechanical properties have become the trend
for construction of green buildings, reducing the building weight and at the same time,
energy consumption.
Bulk density refers to the weight of the material including the intergranular air space in unit
volume (Bhattacharya, 2013). Data gathered show that the mean bulk density of the eco-
friendly bricks was lower compared to the traditional cement bricks. The results are
expected given that bulk density is a function of the mass of the bricks and with fabric
wastes less dense than sand and cement as discussed previously plus a constant volume of
0.0015m3 for both types of bricks, thus the eco-friendly cement bricks are expected to have
lower mean bulk density than the traditional bricks.
When both types of bricks were immersed in water, it could be seen that the eco-friendly
cement bricks with fabric wastes had lower mean saturated mass compared to traditional
bricks with a difference of 0.01 kg. However, looking back at the mass of both bricks, the
eco-friendly bricks had a much lower mean mass by 0.11 kg. This means that the eco-
friendly bricks were able to absorb more water compared to the traditional bricks as
reflected in the higher mean water absorption percentage. According to Zhang and Zong
(2014), durability of concrete plays an integral role in controlling its serviceability. Moreover,
concrete durability is mainly dependent on permeability, which is the capacity of a fluid to
penetrate the microstructure of concrete. Despite, the relatively higher mean water
absorption percentage of 10.24% of eco-friendly bricks as compared to the traditional bricks
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with 9.73%, still both fall within the standard water absorption value of concrete bricks of 8
to 20%.
For all physical properties tested, there was no significant difference in the means of both
types of bricks. Therefore, eco-friendly cement bricks are comparable to traditional bricks in
terms of important physical attributes of bulk density (p=0.086) and water absorption
percentage (p=0.800)
Mechanical Properties
As cited by Coronado et al. (2015), compressive strength, one of the most important
properties of bricks, refers to the bulk unit charge against the breakage under axial
compressive strength. Compressive strength test on bricks are carried out to determine the
load carrying capacity of bricks under compression since masonry structures are made to
bear load as part of walls, columns, and footings (The Constructor, 2019). In the study, the
eco-friendly bricks were slightly lower in mean maximum load and therefore, mean
compressive strength with the latter a function of the former. However, looking at the t-test
results, there was no significant difference between the two (2) bricks with a p-value of
0.326 for both maximum load and compressive strength means.
Cost
Using the same method of production, cost estimates revealed that per unit of the eco-
friendly brick is Php 3.00 cheaper than the conventional brick. Moreover, the producer of
eco-friendly bricks can more likely save Php4,500.00 per production batch (1 meter3)
relative to the production cost per unit of conventional bricks.
5.0 CONCLUSION
Eco-friendly cement bricks with polyester fabric wastes produced at a volumetric ratio of
1:5:1 of cement to sand to fabric are comparable to traditional bricks in terms of physical
properties of mass (kg) (t=1.780, p=0.086), bulk density (kg/m3) (t=1.780, p=0.086), and
water absorption percentage (%) (t=0.256, p=0.800) as well as mechanical properties of
maximum load (kN) (t=1.000, p=0.326) and compressive strength (Mpa) (t=1.000, p=0.326)
with results having no significant differences in their means. In terms of cost, eco-friendly
bricks are cheaper by Php 3.00 than traditional bricks.
6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
The eco-friendly cement bricks with fabric wastes can be commercialized after protection of
the product and the process for environmental enthusiasts interested in constructing green
buildings but not yet as replacement of traditional bricks because of the question of the
finding steady and viable sources of fabric wastes. In the light of this recommendation,
there is also a need to conduct further testing of additional properties of the bricks such as
flammability or even in situ testing.
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