Cotton and limestone powder wastes as brick material

Large amounts of cotton and limestone wastes are accumulated from the countries all over the world. The majority of cotton wastes (CW) and limestone powder wastes (LPW) is abandoned, and causes certain serious environmental problems and health hazards. This paper presents a parametric experimental study, which investigates the potential use of CW-LPW combination for producing new low cost and lightweight composite as a building material. The physical and mechanical properties of concrete mixes having high level of CW and LPW are investigated. The obtained compressive strength, flexural strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), unit weight and water absorption values satisfy the relevant international standards. The results show that the effect of high level replacement of CW with LPW does not exhibit a sudden brittle fracture even beyond the failure loads, indicates high energy absorption capacity, reduces the unit weight dramatically and introduces smother surface compared to the current concrete bricks in the market. The process undertaken can easily be applied in the current brick plants. It results a sturdy lighter weight composite having potential to be used for walls, wooden board substitute, economically alternative to the concrete blocks, ceiling panels, sound barrier panels, etc. Paper presents the results and draws conclusions. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.