The Effect of Adding the Mishraq Sulfur Ore on the Physical and Chemical Properties of Al-Angor and Al-Nahrawan Clays to Producing Lightweight Bricks

Abstract

This paper aims to examine the possibility of producing lightweight laboratory clay Bricks by adding sulfur ore powder in different weight ratios ranging from 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, to 50% as supplementary materials to two types of clays taken from two different sites, which is the Al-Angor clay region near the city of Ramadi and the Al-Nahrawan clay region. The bricks burned at temperatures of 950 and 1050 C°٬ and the longitudinal Shrinkage tests, bulk density, water absorption, compression strength, and efflorescence were measured. The X-ray diffraction analysis was executed to determine the formed metal phases. The results of the tests showed a direct proportion between longitudinal contraction and water absorption ratio with the addition of sulfur ore and high burning temperature. While bulk density and compression strength are inversely proportional to the sulfur ratio and high burning temperature. Efflorescence tests showed a decrease in the efflorescence rate with an increase in the proportion of sulfur ore.