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Constituents of brick earth and functions
Short answer
Good brick earth contains 50–60% silica to prevent shrinkage and give durability, 20–30% alumina for plasticity, 5–10% lime as flux, and 5–6% iron oxide for red colour and strength. Excesses cause brittleness, cracks, or melting.
Write about the essential constituents of good brick earth with their percentage composition and function (role in manufacturing and property of bricks).
Good brick earth is mainly clay with the following constituents.
| Constituent | Percentage | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Silica (sand) | 50-60% | Prevents shrinkage, warping and cracking; gives shape, durability and hardness; excess makes bricks brittle |
| Alumina (clay) | 20-30% | Gives plasticity for moulding; excess causes shrinkage and cracks on drying |
| Lime | 5-10% | Acts as a flux, binds the particles at kiln temperature; excess melts the brick and distorts shape |
| Iron oxide | 5-6% | Acts as a flux, gives the red colour on burning, adds strength; excess turns bricks dark blue-black |
| Magnesia | less than 1% | Gives yellow tint and reduces shrinkage; excess decays the brick |
Silica gives the skeleton, alumina the plasticity, and lime and iron oxide fuse the particles into a strong mass during burning.
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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