Comparison of physical and mechanical properties of traditional bricks in Deli Serdang with no-burn bricks using rice husk ash

Abstract

Population growth has increased, causing more and more housing needs; Indonesia is one of the countries where bricks are still used as the primary material in building walls. It has resulted in increased demand for bricks. One of Indonesia’s regions, Deli Serdang Regency, produces traditional bricks that burn a lot, but the process of making traditional bricks can cause environmental pollution. This research aims to find a way to reduce the effects of environmental pollution by making pressed bricks without burning and utilizing agricultural waste, namely rice husk ash (RHA). After that, a comparison was made between traditional burnt bricks from 15 sub-districts in Deli Serdang Regency and unburnt bricks made from rice husk ash (RHA). This study uses two methods, namely the method of sampling burned bricks and the method of making bricks without burning, both of which are tested for physical and mechanical properties. The results of this study use the requirements of SNI 15-2094-2000, where the test of physical properties of fuel bricks obtained a value of 76%, which meets the requirements, while bricks without burning obtained a value of 87.5%, which meets the requirements. For the results of the size of fuel bricks obtained, 66.6% of the value meets the requirements, while for bricks without burning, 100% meet the requirements. Mechanical properties test for absorption testing on fuel bricks obtained 0.135% while unburned bricks 0.130%, where the value meets the SNI requirements of a maximum absorption of 20%. Salt content testing obtained a value of 0.15% for burned bricks and 0.002% for unburned bricks, where the value meets the SNI requirements that are below 50%. Testing the compressive strength of bricks with a standard value of 5 MPa from the test results of the compressive strength of fuel bricks 3.01 MPa decreased by 39.8%, while the test of compressive strength of unburned bricks 5.17 MPa increased by 3.45%, but unburned bricks with added rice husk ash 1.98 MPa decreased by 60.4%. Based on the study’s results, the absorption and salt content parameters follow the standard. At the same time, the strength test of firebricks and unburned bricks with added rice husk ash does not meet the SNI 15-2094-2000 standard, but the results of the compressive strength test of unburned bricks meet the SNI 15-2094-2000 standard.