The popularity of brick in construction work is determined by its high performance properties. In order for this material to withstand serious loads, it is important to observe the correct technology for its manufacture. Today, two methods of brick production are widely used: fired and non-fired.
Brick production: facts from history
Methods and technologies for making bricks have been improving over the centuries. Until a certain time, the production process of this building material was extremely laborious. Each brick was made by hand, which took a lot of time and effort.
Bricks were dried most often in the summer in the open air, and then for this purpose they began to use special drying ovens, which were usually built into the floor of industrial premises. It was only two centuries ago that an annular brick kiln and a belt press were invented. These innovations greatly facilitated the work of the craftsmen.
Today, brick is produced at large specialized enterprises all year round. The construction industry desperately needs this practical material, which is why the production of bricks is measured worldwide in hundreds of millions of pieces per year.
Brick making technology
In the firing method of brick production, clay is used, which is mined in quarries. For a start, raw materials are placed in special pits, carefully leveled, and then filled with water. After several days of such aging, the clay is delivered to a brick factory, where it is machine processed.
First, stones are removed from the clay mass, after which the raw material enters the feeder. During the processing, the clay is broken into small pieces and ground. Now the prepared material enters the flexible shafts, and from there it is fed to the belt press, which cuts the clay and forms finished products from it. The raw brick is packaged and placed in a drying chamber, where it is heated.
Drying, carried out by an artificial method, does not require significant production areas and does not depend at all on weather conditions. Air currents blow over bricks that are exposed to high temperatures. In humid air, products are heated and dry evenly throughout their entire volume. After drying, the brick is additionally fired in an annular furnace at a temperature of 1000 ° C. High-quality fired brick has a matte surface, and when struck, it emits a clear ringing.
If a non-firing technology is used, pressing of the material is used, in which the original bulk components are welded under the action of increased pressure in the presence of water and binders. The brick processed in this way then undergoes natural aging in the warehouse for a week until it is fully ripe.
