DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN FLY-ASH BRICKS AND RED BRICKS: A REVIEW

Red Bricks and Fly-ash Bricks are two distinct construction materials commonly used in the building industry. This abstract aims to highlight the key differences between fly ash and red bricks in terms of their composition, manufacturing process, properties, and applications. Red bricks are traditional clay-based building units made by moulding and firing clay in kilns. Red bricks get their characteristic reddish-brown colour from iron oxide present in the clay. They are known for their strength, durability, and thermal insulation properties. Red bricks are widely used for load-bearing and non-load-bearing walls, facades, and various other applications in construction. On the other hand, Fly-ash Bricks are building materials that are manufactured using fly ash, a fine powdery by-product obtained from coal combustion in thermal power plants. The production of fly-ash bricks involves mixing fly-ash with an appropriate amount of water, cement, and sometimes sand or other aggregates. This mixture is then compacted using hydraulic pressure or vibration and cured under controlled conditions to form solid bricks. In some cases, a small amount of lime or gypsum may be added as an activator to improve the setting and strength of the bricks. Fly ash is known for its pozzolanic properties, contributing to improved strength, durability, and workability of concrete. It contains mainly silica, alumina, iron oxide, and lime. The primary differences between fly-ash bricks and red bricks lie in their composition, manufacturing process, and applications. Fly-ash is a supplementary cementitious material, while red bricks are solid clay-based units. Fly-ash is obtained from industrial processes, whereas red bricks are manufactured from natural clay sources. Fly-ash is a waste material, while red bricks materials are not. This abstract provides an overview of the distinctions between fly-ash bricks and red bricks, offering valuable insights for engineers, architects, and construction pr