How to determine the water absorption of a brick? Water absorption of bricks is the most important characteristic for choosing. Water absorption of ceramic bricks is at least 8%.

5 samples intended for water absorption testing are dried to a constant weight and, after cooling, weighed to the nearest 1 g. After this, the samples are placed in a vessel with water in one row on pads so that the water level in the vessel is at least 2 times higher than the top of the samples. cm, and no more than 10 cm. The samples are kept in this position for 48 hours. After this, it is removed from the vessel, immediately taken with a damp cloth /soft/ and each sample is weighed. The mass of water flowing from the pores of the sample during weighing should be included in the mass of the water-saturated sample. Weighing of saturated samples must be completed no later than 5 minutes after the samples are removed from the water. Water absorption by mass is calculated using the formula /%/:

where m 1 is the mass of the sample saturated with water, g;

m – mass of the dried sample, g;

Water absorption is determined as the average of 5 results. The water absorption of bricks must be at least 8%.

1.4.Determination of frost resistance of bricks

Frost resistance of a brick is the ability of a material or product saturated with water to withstand repeated freezing and thawing in water.

Brick samples intended for testing for frost resistance are pre-dried to a constant weight, and then saturated with water and weighed. In the freezer chamber, samples are placed in special containers or placed on chamber shelves after the temperature in it drops to -15 0 C. From the beginning to the end of freezing for 4 hours, the temperature in the placement area should not exceed -15 0 C and not below -20 0 C.

After freezing is complete, the samples are removed from freezer and immersed in a bath of water at a temperature of 15 - 20 0 C. The duration of one defrost should be at least 2 hours.

Freezing and subsequent thawing of samples constitutes one cycle. Based on the number of cycles of alternating freezing and thawing without signs of destruction, the frost resistance grade of the brick is determined.

To determine the extent of damage, samples are inspected every 5 cycles after thawing.

A brick is considered to have passed the frost resistance test if, after a specified number of cycles of alternating freezing and thawing, the samples are not destroyed or types of damage are not detected on the surface of the samples: delamination, peeling, through cracks, chipping. If there is significant chipping of the edges and corners, check the weight loss of the sample, which should not exceed 2%.

To determine the weight loss, the samples after the last test cycle are dried to constant weight.

Weight loss is determined by the formula /%/:

where m 1 is the mass of the sample dried to constant weight before testing for frost resistance;

m 2 – mass of the sample dried to constant weight for frost resistance.

Based on frost resistance, brick is divided into four grades: Mrz. 15, Mrz. 25, Mrz. 35, Mrz. 50.

2.Testing ceramic tiles for interior cladding

Tiles used for internal lining walls, are made according to GOST 6141-82 from clay dough by molding, firing and glazing the front surface.

Tiles are produced in rectangular and shaped shapes various types/square, rectangular, corner, etc./, for which their own dimensions are set /for example, square tiles - 150

150 mm/.

The thickness of all tiles, with the exception of plinth tiles, should be no more than 6.0 mm, plinth tiles - no more than 10.0 mm. The thickness of the tiles of one batch should be the same.

The permissible deviation in the thickness of tiles from one batch should not exceed 0.5 mm. Deviation of dimensions along the length of the tile edges is allowed no more than 1.5 mm.

Tiles must have a single-color or marble-like front surface. The color of the front surface of the tiles and the tone of their painting must correspond to the standards.

The water absorption of the tiles should not exceed 16% of the weight of the tiles dried to constant weight.

The dimensions of the tiles are checked with a metal measuring tool or template with an accuracy of 1 mm. The correctness of the right angles of the tiles will be determined with a metal square.

The curvature of the tiles is determined in the following ways: in the case of a concave surface - by measuring the largest gap between the surface of the tile and the edge of a metal ruler placed diagonally across the tile; in the case of a convex surface - by measuring the gap between the surface of the tile and the edge of a metal ruler placed diagonally on the tile and resting at one end on a gauge equal to the permissible amount of curvature.

To determine the thermal resistance of the tiles, a selected three tiles are placed in an air bath and gradually heated. Upon reaching a temperature of 100 0 C, the tiles are quickly immersed in water at a temperature of 18-20 0 C and left in it until completely cooled; they are then taken out and examined. To more accurately detect the presence of tarmac /roughness/, apply a few drops of liquid paint or ink to the surface of the tiles and wipe with a soft cloth.

Tiles are considered thermally resistant if, as a result of testing, no cracks, nicks, or marks are found on their glazed surface.

To analyze the uniform color of the front surfaces of square and rectangular tiles, they are laid on a board close together over an area of 1 m2, and shaped tiles are laid in a row at least 1 m long. The board is installed in a vertical position in an open place.

The color of the surface of the tiles at a distance of 3 m from the observer’s eye should look uniform in accordance with the standard.

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Features of moisture retention as an operational characteristic

The ability of a material to absorb and retain water is called water absorption.

The brick blocks in the erected structure are susceptible to atmospheric influences, since they have constant contact with the environment. They absorb the moisture they come into contact with. It is important that the water absorption rate is optimal and meets the standards established for each type of brick. Too much high level moisture absorption contributes to the deterioration of the microclimate in the house due to water not having time to evaporate. And at sub-zero temperatures, it turns into ice and expands, as a result of which cracks form in the brick, and this renders it unusable and the strength of the building decreases. If the index is too low, the brick blocks adhere weakly to the mortar, which also impairs strength.

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What does it depend on?

The level of water absorption of a brick directly depends on its porosity and the presence of voids in it. The more there are, the more moisture the block absorbs. Consequently, the hygroscopicity of a hollow brick will be higher than that of a solid brick. In addition, the ability of a material to absorb moisture depends on its type. There are 3 varieties:

silicate;
ceramic;
concrete.

Concrete material absorbs moisture the least.

The composition of sand-lime brick includes sand, a little lime with binding impurities. This type of material is the most hygroscopic. Ceramic is made from clay by firing at elevated temperatures reaching 1000 degrees. Water absorption ceramic bricks is also quite high, in addition, the layered structure retains moisture inside for a long time, which leads to the destruction of the block when the air temperature drops below 0 degrees. Concrete is made from cement mortar. Such brick blocks have the lowest water absorption rate, but, unfortunately, this is its only advantage over other types of brick.

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Brick water absorption requirements

There are certain limits to the optimal water absorption of bricks. These standards are established depending on its type, purpose and taking into account further conditions operation of the constructed structure. The table presents indicators indicating the limits of the possible level of moisture absorption by a building material.

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How is it determined?

Before soaking, the bricks are dried in an oven.

The level of water absorption by a brick block is determined by testing the material using a method identical to all its types, with the exception of some features for sand-lime bricks. Research is carried out on intact samples taken from a batch of three pieces. They are pre-dried in an oven at a temperature of 110-120 degrees. Then the block, naturally cooled at room temperature no higher than 25 degrees, weighed and immersed in water for 2 days.

The sand-lime brick is not dried before testing. Otherwise, immersion in liquid occurs only after 24 hours from the moment of drying.

After this time, it is removed from the water and weighed, taking into account the mass of liquid that has flowed into the scales and the wet building material. The water absorption rate is determined as the difference between a block soaked in water and a dry block. The parameter is calculated as a percentage for all 3 samples. The final result will be equal to their arithmetic average.

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Composition of ceramic bricks

The best ceramic brick is made from clay of fine fractions and constant composition. The process of extracting raw materials in this case occurs using a single-bucket excavator that does not mix the layers of clay. But there are quite a few such quarries left. Rotary excavators mix all layers of clay and crush them, therefore, to produce high-quality ceramic bricks from such raw materials, the firing technology must be strictly followed.

Clay is a mixture of fusible and refractory elements. When fired correctly, low-melting components bind and dissolve their more refractory counterparts; the structural composition of the brick depends on the ratio of these ingredients. The technology of correct molding and drying of raw materials is aimed at giving it maximum strength while maintaining a given shape. The shape and technical characteristics of ceramic bricks are regulated by GOST 530-2007.

Classification and subtypes of ceramic bricks.

Ceramic bricks vary according to manufacturing technology: fired and unfired.

Unfired ceramic brick (adoba) is made by drying outdoors, this produces a material with low technical characteristics and modern construction practically not used.
Fired brick is exposed to heat in special kilns and tunnels, which gives it high strength and low moisture permeability.

Ceramic bricks are made in full and hollow option.

Solid brick is heavier and has increased thermal conductivity, so it is gradually being replaced by hollow material.
Hollow brick is made with the creation of internal cavities various shapes and size. The volume of cavities can reach up to 55% of the total volume of the product. Cavities reduce the thermal conductivity of the material, allowing you to lay thinner walls.

Based on the quality of production, bricks are divided into regular and facial.

The strength characteristics of ceramic bricks are determined by its brand: from M100 to M300. The numerical value of the brand indicates the maximum pressure that the material can accept, measured in kg/cm2.

By size ceramic bricks are divided into three main groups:

Single brick - 250 x 120 x 65 mm;
One and a half brick - 250 x 120 x 88 mm;
Double brick - 250 x 120 x 140 mm.

Also in our country a different standard is used:

0.7 NF (Euro) - 250 x 85 x 65 mm;
1.3 NF (modular single) - 288 x 138 x 65 mm.

The size of the brick is carefully considered as the width is half the length with a 10mm allowance for the mortar joint. Solid double brick in accordance with GOST is called ceramic stone and is the most economical of the above materials.

Brick varies in color: from light yellow to dark brown, depending on the raw materials used. Currently, pigmentation of ceramic bricks is actively used to give the material various color shades.

Technical characteristics of ceramic bricks.

Strength— 100 - 300 kg/sq.cm. The strength of a material is regulated by its brand and depends on the density and manufacturing technology. The most popular materials are considered to be M 150 and M 200.
Volume weight: solid brick - 1,600 - 1,900 kg/cub.m; hollow brick - 1,100 - 1,450 kg/cub.m. The specific gravity of the material depends on the volume of internal voids of the brick. As the volume of cavities increases, the thermal conductivity of the material decreases and efficiency increases.
Thermal conductivity— 0.6 - 0.7 W/m Hail for solid bricks; 0.3 - 0.5 W/m Hail for hollow material. Ceramic brick has a fairly low thermal conductivity, which makes it possible to build energy-efficient structures.
Frost resistance- cycles 50 - 100 F. Ceramic brick tolerates temperature changes well and, with proper masonry formation and constant internal heating, can last 100 years or more.
Shrinkage— 0.03 - 0.1 mm/m. This indicator is brickwork is very insignificant and therefore buildings built from ceramic bricks rarely crack.
Water absorption- 6 - 14%. High moisture absorption negatively affects the quality of building materials. Ceramic brick has fairly low moisture absorption and therefore has high strength characteristics under all operating conditions.
Vapor permeability- 0.14 - 0.17 Mg/(m*h*Pa). This indicator is sufficient to create comfortable humidity in the room.
Fire resistance- 10 hours. This is a very high indicator, allowing brickwork for a long time resist high temperatures, and therefore the material is considered practically non-flammable.
Price: 6 - 8 rub./piece. — solid brick, 7 - 9 rubles/piece. — hollow brick. The cost of the material practically does not depend on its design features. The cost of facing brick is 18 - 25 rubles/piece.
Soundproofing- good. The sound insulation characteristics of ceramic bricks meet the requirements of SNiP 23-03-2003
Maximum number of storeys of a building- not limited. The strength characteristics of the material allow the construction of large structures.

Advantages and disadvantages of ceramic bricks

Ceramic brick has a number of advantages, which have made this material very popular in the market.

Advantages

Brick is highly durable, and its small sizes allow you to build the most complex architectural forms and implement unusual solutions.
The attractive appearance of finishing bricks makes it possible not to use additional decoration when decorating the external surfaces of the wall.
Unlike concrete slabs brick has a greater heat capacity, so the room is warm in winter and cool in summer.

Flaws

In case of insufficient heating in winter brick house cools down, it takes quite a long time to heat it up again.

Scope of material application and transportation

Ceramic brick, being a universal material, is widely used for the construction of objects for various purposes, the construction of load-bearing structures and interior partitions. Using this material, you can solve the most complex architectural problems and even restore historical objects.

Ceramic bricks are transported on pallets that comply with GOST 25706-83. by road or rail and is marked by manufacturers in accordance with GOST 14192.

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Water absorption rates

To increase the strength and durability of the material, its water absorption rate should be reduced as much as possible, but practice shows otherwise.

The water absorption rate cannot be limited for several reasons:

If the water absorption rate is low, the masonry will be less durable, since the adhesion to the mortar will be broken.
An insufficient number of pores and voids will significantly reduce its thermal stability, making the material unsuitable for use in regions with long winters. To avoid such problems, experts have developed certain standards according to which the water absorption rate should be at least 6%. The maximum level is determined depending on the type of building material.

There are 3 main types building bricks:

concrete;
silicate;
ceramic.

The production of products from a concrete mixture occurs by pouring the solution into special molds. On practice this type rarely used because it is heavy, expensive, and does not retain heat well. Despite these disadvantages, this product has the lowest water absorption rate of 3-5%. Masonry made from such building material perfectly withstands sudden temperature changes and is characterized by a long service life.

Sand-lime brick is based on sand with a small addition of lime and binding materials, and may contain pigments. The water absorption of sand-lime brick is about 15%. It is for this reason that it is not recommended to use it for the construction of walls located in places with high humidity. Ceramic bricks are made from clay, which is fired at a maximum temperature of 1000°C. High-quality ceramic bricks have a water absorption rate of 6-14%. A special feature of this building material is its layered structure. At low temperatures ah, moisture is trapped between the layers and cannot be quickly released from them. Temperature changes lead to the fact that ceramic bricks begin to quickly deteriorate. In order to prolong the operation of ceramic brick masonry, high-quality finishing work should be carried out.

How to determine the water absorption rate?

Research should be carried out only under special conditions:

The good water absorption of sand-lime brick allows it to be used for the construction of foundations.

the room temperature should be within 15-25°C;
only whole, undamaged samples are examined;
the product must be dried to a constant mass in special autoclaves at a temperature of about 150°C.
silicate building material can be examined only after 24 hours of drying.

Research is carried out simultaneously for 3 samples. This is necessary to determine the arithmetic mean. After each sample is weighed and dried, it is placed in a vessel with water so that the liquid level covers the surface of the stone by 2-8 cm. After 2 days, the products are removed from the water and immediately weighed. Both the mass of the brick and the mass of water flowing into the scales are taken into account. Next, we use a formula for calculating the water absorption of a material, by which it is easy to determine this indicator:

PV=m 0 -m 1 /m 1 *100%, where:

PV - water absorption indicator;
m 0 is the mass of stone saturated with water;
m 1 is the mass of the dried sample.

The result is determined as a percentage; for building bricks it should be no more than 5%, and for finishing elements - no higher than 15%.

These studies are easy to carry out on your own. The research results will be very useful for the correct choice of material, which will ultimately determine the quality and durability of the buildings being built.

The level of water absorption of a building product is one of the most important characteristics that allows you to determine the scope of use of the building material. For example, sand-lime brick has good moisture absorption, so its use for the construction of foundations, basement floors, surfaces located in an environment with high humidity is limited. It is quite suitable for building walls and load-bearing partitions.

When choosing a brick for construction, you should always be guided by its characteristics so that the building turns out strong and durable.

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Basic concepts and definitions

Relationship between main parameters

The characteristics mentioned above are closely related and dependent on each other. To understand this, it is necessary to define water absorption.

Definition. Water absorption is the ability of a material to absorb water and retain it. It is expressed as a percentage of the actual volume of the material. If we talk about a brick, its water absorption shows how much water it can absorb when completely immersed.

It is clear that the larger the volume of voids in the brick (i.e., the higher its porosity), the more water it will absorb. At the same time, porosity affects the strength of the material and its ability to withstand a certain load. And also for frost resistance, which shows how many freezing and thawing cycles it can withstand without reducing its performance properties.

Moisture that penetrates into the voids freezes at subzero air temperatures. At the same time, it increases in volume, destroying the brick from the inside, literally tearing it apart. Based on this, it can be understood that the lower the moisture absorption, the higher the frost resistance of the product and, accordingly, its durability (see also the article Thermal conductivity of bricks: comparison of materials).

Norms and requirements

It would seem that to improve these indicators it is enough to maximize the density of the product in order to limit the absorption of moisture into it.

However, this is not done for two reasons:

If the water absorption of ceramic bricks is very low, the masonry made from it will be fragile, since normal communication with the mortar will not be ensured.

The absence of pores reduces thermal insulation properties material, makes it unsuitable for the operating conditions that exist in our cold climate.

Therefore, there are standards established by GOST, according to which this figure should be no lower than 6%. Its upper limit depends on the type of brick and the conditions in which it will work.

Private – 12-14%;
Facial – 8-10%;
Bricks used in internal rows of masonry and for the construction of partitions can have water absorption of up to 16%.

This scatter is explained by the fact that the inner rows of masonry are not directly affected by precipitation and low temperatures, while the outer ones completely absorb them. Therefore, the water absorption of facing bricks should be as low as possible. And to reduce thermal conductivity, special technological voids are made in it.

For reference. Clinker facing bricks have the best performance. There are practically no foreign inclusions and pores, due to which its moisture resistance, frost resistance, strength and durability are very high. But its price is also higher than the usual one.

Determination of moisture absorption

To determine this indicator, the methodology regulated by GOST 7025-91 “Ceramic and silicate bricks and stones is used. Methods for determining water absorption, density and frost resistance control.”

General requirements of the methodology

The research is carried out in the laboratory in compliance with the following requirements:

The air temperature in the room should be within 15-25 degrees;
Whole products or halves are tested;
Samples must be dried to a constant weight with a specified weighing error. Drying is carried out at a temperature of 1055 degrees in an electrical cabinet;

Silicate products are tested no earlier than 24 hours after autoclave treatment.

Carrying out the test

At least three samples from one batch are taken for research. This is required by the instructions for determining the arithmetic average value of moisture absorption.

After drying, they are weighed and immersed in a vessel with water at a temperature of 15-25 degrees, placed on grates with gaps of at least 2 cm. The water level should be 2-10 cm higher than the top sample.

Note. Sand-lime brick not dried before testing.

After 48 hours, the products are removed from the water and immediately weighed again, including the mass of bricks and the mass of water that leaked onto the scale.

The results obtained are processed by calculating water absorption using the following formula:

m1 – mass of the product saturated with water;

m is the mass of the dried product.

That is, they relate the mass of absorbed water to the mass of the sample itself and express the resulting value as a percentage.

Example. If the dried brick weighed 4000 g, and after the test began to weigh 4360 g, then its water absorption is equal to (4360 - 4000) / 4000 * 100 = 9%.

Despite the fact that the tests require special equipment, you can do it yourself, but the results will be very close to the actual ones. However, if you use a brick whose characteristics are unknown to you, they will be very informative.

Conclusion

The degree of water absorption of a material is the most important characteristic that allows you to determine the scope of its application. For example, sand-lime brick has a high ability to absorb water, and that is why it is not used in the construction of foundations, basements and walls of wet rooms (read also the article Sand-lime brick: pros and cons, as well as types and features of use). In the video presented in this article you will find Additional information on this topic.

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Composition, production and types of ceramic bricks

Brick production, despite its apparent simplicity, is considered a complex technological process that takes place in several stages. Today, two technologies for making ceramic bricks can be considered common.

Plate method. Individual bricks are formed from a prepared clay mass whose water content is approximately 17-30%. Next, the formed individual bricks are dried in a special chamber or in a shaded place. Finally, the brick is fired in kilns, after which it is sent to a warehouse for storage or shipped to customers.
Semi-dry pressing technology. The water content in the clay mass in this case does not exceed 8-10%. The brick block is formed by pressing under high pressure (about 15 MPa). Unlike the first method, the raw material - clay - is first crushed to a powder state, from which individual bricks are then formed by pressing. The advantage of this method is the reduced drying time or the complete absence of this stage in the technological process of producing bricks in this way.

The production of ceramic bricks must be carried out in full compliance with the standards GOST 7484-78 and GOST 530-95. To mix the clay mass, special mechanisms are used: clay grinders, rollers and runners. The formation of individual brick blocks is carried out on high-performance belt presses. And the use of vibration stands makes it possible to eliminate the formation of unwanted cavities and ensure a uniform structure of finished brick blocks.

It must be taken into account that produced in different regions brick even of one type will have several various characteristics. This is explained by the fact that the raw material - clay - has a different chemical composition in different places.

For drying wet bricks, either the chamber or tunnel method can be used. With the chamber method, raw bricks are placed in a special room in which the temperature and humidity are changed according to a predetermined program. At chamber drying raw brick is passed through certain zones in which different microclimatic parameters are maintained.

Firing of ceramic bricks is carried out in special kilns under strict observance of certain conditions. The firing temperature is selected depending on the clay composition used. Usually it is in the range of 950-1050 degrees Celsius. The duration of brick firing is selected in such a way that the resulting glassy phase in the entire structure of the product is at least 8-10%. In this case, it will be possible to guarantee the high mechanical strength of ceramic bricks, which is considered its most important characteristic. As a result, all buildings built of brick can last for centuries.

Brick is made from fine clay, mined in quarries open method using rotary or single-bucket excavator equipment. The required quality of bricks can only be achieved by using materials with a homogeneous mineral composition. Factories that manufacture and sell brick products are often built in close proximity to clay deposits. This allows us to minimize transport costs and guarantee an uninterrupted supply of high-quality raw materials to the plant.

Ceramic bricks are divided into types depending on their purpose: ordinary, front (facing) and special (fireproof, fireclay). You can also mention the so-called restoration brick. It, as is clear from its name, is used when performing restoration work on ancient architectural objects. It is made to order, since in those days other brick production technologies were used, and there were no generally accepted standards for sizes.

In turn, facing bricks also come in several types:

façade;
shaped;
figured;
engobed;
glazed.

In addition, ceramic bricks can be solid or hollow, and their side surfaces can be smooth or corrugated. Often a brick of the same type combines several different characteristics at once. For example, ordinary brick can be either solid or have cavities. For laying fireplaces or stoves, fire-resistant (fireclay) brick is used, and its variety - clinker brick - is used for paving walkways and courtyard areas.

Density of ceramic brick

The internal structure of the brick has a direct impact on its technical characteristics and physicochemical characteristics. For example, an important parameter is the density of such products.
Depending on the density of ceramic bricks, they are usually divided into classes, designated by a numerical value in the range from 0.8 to 2.4. These indicators characterize the weight of 1 cubic meter. meters of building material in tons. This division into classes, and there are six in total, greatly simplifies paperwork in the construction business.

In addition, knowledge of the class of brick products used has important for design calculations, determination of maximum loads on the foundation and load-bearing structures of buildings being built. The high mechanical strength of the bricks is achieved due to their homogeneous structure. But for the same reason, they have unsatisfactory thermal insulation properties, therefore, when using monolithic bricks, it is necessary to take measures to additionally insulate the walls.

Reducing the mass of brick and increasing its thermal insulation properties is facilitated by the presence of voids of various shapes in it, depending on the technology provided (round, rectangular and slot-shaped). In this case, voids in the product can be located vertically or horizontally, and also be through or blind. The cavities can have both ordinary and facing bricks.

The direction of the cavities in the brick body relative to the load plane significantly affects the mechanical strength of the product. Bricks in which the voids have a horizontal direction cannot be used for laying load-bearing walls, since there is a high probability of their destruction under the weight of the building structures themselves. The advantage of hollow bricks is a significant saving of raw materials (up to 13%), which makes their production cheaper. In addition, their use, for example, for the construction of interior partitions makes it possible to reduce the load on interfloor ceilings and on the entire foundation as a whole.

Promote thermal insulation characteristics bricks can be made by giving them a porous structure. For this purpose, a mixture is added to the clay mixture: sawdust, peat, finely chopped straw. During the firing process, these additives burn out and air-filled pores remain in the body of the brick. Their presence has a positive effect on the thermal conductivity properties of the finished product. Walls made of porous brick, with the same thermal insulation requirements, are noticeably thinner than the same wall made of monolithic brick.

Thermal conductivity properties of ceramic bricks

The internal structure of brick products directly affects their physical properties. In this case, the heat-saving characteristics of the brick are determined by the thermal conductivity coefficient. It indicates how much heat is required to change the air temperature by 1 degree Celsius with a brick wall thickness of 1 meter. This coefficient is necessarily used when designing buildings to calculate the thickness of external walls in order to ensure the desired heat saving indicators.

The density of ceramic products and their heat-shielding properties are directly related to each other.

It is customary to divide ceramic bricks into five groups according to their thermal conductivity coefficient.

Solid brick, which has high thermal conductivity, is traditionally used for the construction of load-bearing walls of buildings and other load-bearing structures. Walls lined with such bricks necessarily require additional insulation in order to reduce the significant heat loss inherent in them. At the same time, products with voids and cracks can significantly reduce the thickness of the walls of low-rise buildings, as well as interior partitions. The presence of air pores significantly reduces heat loss through the walls.

Moisture absorption by brick

The pores present in the body of the brick facilitate the penetration of moisture and water vapor into ceramic products. The absorption coefficient is significantly influenced by the density of ceramic bricks, as well as many other factors. For solid bricks, this figure is a maximum of 14%, which has a positive effect on the strength and heat-shielding properties of such products.

The degree of moisture penetration into the structure of a ceramic product also significantly depends on the stability of heating. If the internal temperature drops to the level of outside air, moisture actively penetrates into the porous structure of the bricks. And when it freezes, it crystallizes, resulting in microcracks appearing in brick products. Over time, this leads to the destruction of the brickwork.

Vapor permeability of brick

In residential premises there is always increased air humidity, which is directly related to human activity. The brickwork of the walls is capable of actively absorbing and releasing water vapor into external environment, contributing to the formation and maintenance of the necessary microclimate in the interior. For ceramic bricks, this parameter is approximately equal to 0.14 - 0.17 Mg/(m*h*Pa), which is quite sufficient to ensure comfortable conditions in residential premises.

To assess the vapor permeability of any material, a special coefficient is used, which characterizes the density of vapor penetrating through a surface of 1 square meter. meter in 1 hour.

Frost resistance

Brick is widely used for the construction of various buildings in a wide variety of climatic zones. Including in those regions where they are regularly observed negative temperatures air. The resistance of any material to low temperatures is usually called frost resistance. According to the existing standard, this indicator is expressed in cycles, that is, the number of years during which Brick wall can stand still while maintaining all the necessary operational characteristics.

The frost resistance of ceramic bricks is usually indicated as follows: from 50F to 100F. Accordingly, we are talking about the number of years (50 - 100) of operation of the building, subject to high-quality masonry and stable heating in the winter months. Ceramic brick is deservedly considered a material that is highly resistant to external influences and strong changes in ambient temperature. Brick buildings can last for many decades even in the extremely harsh conditions of northern latitudes, where Substantial part our country.

Fire resistance

A very important characteristic of any building material is its fire safety. This characteristic refers to the property of materials to resist the effects of very high temperatures, as well as open fire. Ceramic brick is rightly considered an absolutely non-combustible building material, but its fire resistance is determined by the type of product. That is, we mean the time during which the material will be able to maintain its characteristics and integrity when exposed to an open flame.

Compared to other materials widely used in building construction, ceramic bricks have the advantage of having the highest degree of fire resistance. It is able to withstand direct exposure to fire for a full five hours. If we compare the fire resistance of other materials, then, for example, today also widespread reinforced concrete structures are able to withstand the action of a flame for only no more than two hours, and metal constructions- and less than half an hour. Also a very important indicator is the maximum temperature that a particular building material can withstand without noticeable consequences for itself. Thus, ordinary brick can withstand up to 1400 degrees Celsius, and fireclay and clinker bricks can withstand more than 1600 degrees.

Soundproofing properties

Ceramic brick is able to absorb sound waves well in a wide frequency range. The ability of brick to absorb sounds meets the requirements of SNiP 23-03-2003, and in addition GOST 12.1.023-80, GOST 27296-87, GOST 30691-2001, GOST 31295.2-2005 and GOST R 53187-2008. Therefore, walls made of ceramic bricks do an excellent job of absorbing street noise, providing comfort in interior spaces.

Due to this, ceramic bricks are recommended for use in the construction of residential, office and industrial buildings. Bricks can also be used to construct soundproofing partitions, acoustic screens and soundproofed booths for monitoring and remote control various technological processes at manufacturing plants.

The soundproofing properties of ceramic bricks must be taken into account when performing acoustic calculations of buildings and separate rooms. It is also necessary to take into account the sound power level and the position of the sound sources. Walls made of hollow bricks have better soundproofing characteristics than structures made of monolithic products.

However, only increasing the thickness of brick walls to achieve the required sound insulation indicators is ineffective, since doubling the thickness of the walls will improve the degree of sound insulation by only a few decibels. Therefore, to solve problems with sound insulation, it is recommended to use other materials that are more effective from this point of view.

Environmental friendliness of ceramic bricks

In recent years, the topic of environmental friendliness of materials used in the construction industry has received a lot of attention, since this has a direct impact on the health and well-being of people, as well as on the environment. In the production of ceramic bricks, only natural raw materials are used: clay and water. The materials used in the production of porous bricks (sawdust, straw, peat) are also absolutely safe for humans. During the operation of residential and industrial buildings brick does not emit any substances hazardous to humans, which is another positive quality of this building material, thanks to which it remains in demand today.

residential buildings of any number of storeys;
premises of public catering establishments;
kindergartens, schools, hospitals;
production premises.

In terms of environmental friendliness, ceramic bricks are on a par with such popular building materials as natural stone and natural wood. The use of ceramic bricks and these two materials allows you to create an optimally suitable living environment for the safe living of adults and children.

Dimensions and accuracy of geometric shapes

Today, manufacturers offer a wide range of bricks of various types and shapes. According to standard size, it is customary to distinguish 5 standard types of ceramic bricks:

single or normal;
thickened;
single modular;
"Euro";
thickened with horizontal through cavities.

The dimensions of ceramic bricks must strictly meet the requirements of the national standard GOST 530-2007, which, in turn, corresponds to the European EN 771-1:2003.

According to these standards, the maximum permissible deviations from the nominal dimensions of ceramic bricks that manufacturers can afford are determined. More precisely, the length of the brick should not differ from the standard by more than 4 mm, the width by 3 mm, and the thickness of the brick block by 2 mm. In relation to the angle between perpendicular planes of the finished product, the permissible deviation cannot exceed 3 mm. Such high requirements for the accuracy of ceramic bricks greatly simplify the design of buildings, and also make possible construction large objects with minimal deviations.

It is possible to produce ceramic bricks with non-standard nominal dimensions. As a rule, this happens when a special order is received after all the parameters of such products have been discussed between the manufacturer and the customer. But even in this case, all the above-mentioned requirements for accuracy linear dimensions And geometric shape must be strictly followed by the manufacturer of ceramic bricks.

Special varieties of ceramic bricks

Ceramic bricks can be used in the construction of buildings and structures for various purposes. But any brick is not suitable for laying stove furnaces, fireplaces and combustion chambers, since for these purposes it is necessary to use special fire-resistant types of bricks. Also, a special type of ceramic products is used for paving walkways in parks and courtyards of country houses. In each case, special types of bricks must meet certain requirements. Using ordinary brick for these purposes will lead to fairly rapid destruction of such structures.

Fire brick

Refractory (aka fireclay) brick is able to withstand prolonged exposure to high temperatures (up to 800 degrees Celsius) and open fire without losing its performance characteristics, without being destroyed by this. To do this, during its production, up to 70% of special refractory clay is added to the molding solution, thanks to which during operation the product does not collapse during many heating and cooling cycles.

There are several types of refractory ceramic bricks, differing in their operating temperature and resistance to various external factors:

quartz brick used in laying furnace vaults, which perform a reflective function;
fireclay brick, the most popular type of refractory brick, widely used in laying stoves and fireplaces;
carbon brick containing pressed graphite and a domain used in industry for construction;
the main one, for the production of which magnesium-lime compositions are used, is used in the construction of smelting furnaces.

Clinker bricks are used for cladding the basement floors and facades of buildings, paving walkways and floors in internal industrial premises. This type of ceramic brick is characterized by high performance mechanical strength, frost resistance and wear resistance. Such products can easily withstand up to 50 cycles of cooling to very low temperatures and subsequent heating. The high density and increased requirements for this type of ceramic bricks make it possible to guarantee a strength grade of at least M400.

Transportation and storage of ceramic bricks

For transportation of ceramic bricks, subject to necessary rules You can use any type of transport: land, water, air. For ease of transportation and maintaining integrity, ceramic bricks are transported on standard pallets that have strictly defined dimensions. Flatbed trucks must be used to deliver bricks on pallets to the construction site. As a rule, no more than one row of pallets in height is installed in the body, but provided they are securely fastened, two pallets in height can be loaded. You just need to make sure that the loaded pallets do not move during transportation, risking falling out of the body.

During transportation, it is necessary to choose the speed of movement taking into account the quality of the road surface. It is clear that on a road replete with potholes and potholes, the speed of vehicles should be minimal in order to prevent the fastenings from breaking off and the bricks in the pallets from moving.

It is not recommended to transport ceramic bricks in bulk and then dump them on the ground, since this may result in damage to up to 20% of the total number of products. Loading and unloading of bricks on pallets is carried out using load-lifting cranes, which have been tested and correspond to the weight of the loads being lifted. In the absence of such an opportunity, you have to perform this work manually, which can take quite a lot of time. For the safety of people, they must be provided with gloves or mittens.

If long-term storage of ceramic bricks is necessary, it is placed under a canopy on an area with a hard, even surface, cleared of foreign objects or debris, and in winter - from snow drifts. In order to eliminate the possibility of damage to bricks during storage, pallets should be installed with a small distance between them (10-15 cm). Bricks in pallets can be placed in one row or even in several tiers. They can also be stored in stacks by placing them directly on a hard surface. Loading and unloading of ceramic bricks can be done either mechanically or manually. In any case, it is important to follow all the required rules and safety measures.

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A little about water absorption standards

To increase strength and durability, it is important to reduce the level of water absorption of the material to a minimum. In practice, this is not so easy to do, due to objective reasons:

If the volume of absorbed water is reduced, this may affect the strength of the brickwork due to reduced adhesion to the masonry mortar.
Internal voids give products additional insulating and soundproofing properties, which is very valuable in areas with harsh climatic conditions or increased noise. Accordingly, with a decrease in porosity, the specified qualities are lost. For this reason, special standards are established the lower limit for water absorption of ceramic bricks is 6%. The top line is determined by the purpose of each specific type of material.

Types of bricks by water absorption

GOST defines for different types bricks have different limits of maximum water absorption. This indicator also depends on operating conditions.

For ordinary brick this indicator is set at the level 12-14%
Water absorption of ceramic bricks for facing masonry - from 8 to 10%.
For interior work (finishing, partitions) brick has a limiting rate of water absorption 16% .

Such a significant difference for different types explained different conditions in which they are used. For example, the interior masonry is not affected by precipitation, and the temperature is usually within comfortable limits.

The material used in outdoor conditions experiences all the destructive effects of weather. This is especially true for regions with harsh climatic conditions, for which facing ceramic bricks with the lowest possible moisture absorption coefficient are developed. To ensure that its thermal insulation characteristics are not affected, special technological voids are provided inside.

The approximate purpose of a given building material can be determined by its ability to absorb moisture. When purchasing ceramic bricks for personal needs, it is recommended to pay attention to the water absorption coefficient: such information is usually contained in the accompanying documentation.

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What can this high water absorption affect?

1. If a brick has such water absorption, then it will inevitably change color: thanks to oblique rains. capillary suction, not to mention direct leaks. In addition, when using such bricks at a distance (in a system where a ventilated air gap) with a small thickness of such a gap, such as 25 mm, you can get stains on the brick and local wetting. A similar problem can occur on a wall with a normal gap, but without vents.
If the brick is used with warm ceramics and laid without a gap, we will get the problem of wetting associated with possible condensation in the brick area.
2. Brick with high water absorption can become dirty after getting wet, attracting dirt both from the atmosphere and from the masonry. In my practice, there were cases when a brick absorbed black pigment from the masonry mortar.
3. If the brick gets wet systematically, then it begins to work on frost resistance. The higher the water absorption, the greater the risk.

Most likely your brick is one of the following:

Bryansk brick factory
Kerma (Afonino, NN)
Alekseevskaya Ceramics (RT)
Norsky brick (Yaroslavl)
On Zakamennaya (Perm)
Belebey (Bashkiria)
Koshchakovo (RT)
Klyuchishchi ceramics (RT)

All of the manufacturers listed have one thing in common: they use chalk to obtain a light shade. Chalk is a natural clay thickener, and if the original clay is not ice, we get a natural result. The advantage of this technology is the price compared to bricks made from real clay.
There are plenty of large and undemanding construction projects in our country. Let these bricks live there!

I think that you should refrain from purchasing such a brick. There are quite a few decent manufacturers on the market, but we only build a house once.
If you have a choice, it makes sense to purchase the bricks that have less water absorption. There are several manufacturers on the market who do not declare their products as front-end products, but in fact produce them

This year I conducted a mass test of water absorption of bricks from different manufacturers - this is what I got - TYNTS

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Water absorption is the tendency to absorb and store moisture. To designate it, the ratio of the volume of absorbed moisture and the material is used.

This value increases as the pores or voids in the brick structure increase. It is also important to understand that the presence of internal pores negatively affects the strength of the product and its resistance to load transfer.

When the temperature drops below zero, the water inside can cause its destruction, since when the liquid freezes it increases in volume. This makes strength and frost resistance directly dependent on the degree of water absorption: the higher it is, the shorter the service life of the constructed wall.

Helpful information:

A little about water absorption standards

To increase strength and durability, it is important to reduce the level of water absorption of the material to a minimum. In practice, this is not so easy to do, due to objective reasons:

Types of bricks by water absorption

GOST defines different maximum water absorption limits for different types of brick. This indicator also depends on operating conditions.

For ordinary brick this indicator is set at the level 12-14%
Water absorption of ceramic bricks for facing masonry - from 8 to 10%.
For interior work(finishing, partitions) brick has a limiting rate of water absorption 16% .

This significant difference for different species is explained by the different conditions in which they are used. For example, the interior masonry is not affected by precipitation, and the temperature is usually within comfortable limits.

Any building material has certain properties that make it suitable or unsuitable for use in a particular area. For example, brick is divided into construction and facing not only by appearance, but also by characteristics. The main ones are strength, frost resistance and water absorption of bricks.

Load-bearing structures are built from ordinary solid stone that can withstand the load from their own weight, the weight of the roof and ceilings. And the cladding not only decorates, but also insulates the building. Both species have different functions and are exposed to the environment differently, so they require different physical properties.