PRODUCTION OF INSULATION BRICK FROM BREWERY SPENT DIATOMITE, PLASTIC WASTE AND SAWDUST

Abstract

Insulation brick is the most important material which use for multi-purpose. In our project insulatorbrick is produced from locally available and feasible waste materials such as plastic waste, spentdiatomite from brewery industry and sawdust from furniture has been studied. Now a day disposal wastes material become a serious problem. This research project work is aimed to utilize plasticwastes of polyethylene terephetalet as binding agent, diatomite with less dense and saw dust with bio based reinforcement property in the production of insulation brick to save heat forms of energy applications. The produced insulation bricks with different ratios of plastic waste, diatomite (Kieselguhr), and sawdust were analyzed for their physio-mechanical characteristics such as flexural strength, water absorption, thermal conductivity and compressive strength. The maximum bending strength of 17.72MPa was obtained at the optimum process variables (pressing pressure of 68.5kPa, plastic composition of 60%, diatomite 30% and sawdust 10%). The maximum and theaverage water absorption of the brick were 0.28% and 0.11% respectively. The maximum compressive strength at 14 days was observed as 17.66 N/mm2or maximum diatomite case and minimum compressive strengthat 14 days was observed as 6.64 N/mm2for brick with 20% diatomite content and Minimum thermal conductivity was observed as 0.0164 W/m oC for brick with 45 % diatomite content. The optimum composition ratio for all test was PET/diatomite/sawdust of (60/30/10) which given thermal conductivity=0.01728W/moC, compressive strength=10.16N/mm2water absorption=0.041% and flexural strength=17.72 MPa. Investigation on the technical and economic feasibility of the work for insulator brick production was performed. Results from thefeasibility study indicated that the proposed work was feasible with rate of investment (ROI) 14.27% and the payback period of the project is estimated to be 2years. The produced insulation bricks have light weight but better physio-mechanical properties compared to conventional insulation bricks.