Manufacture of high heat conductivity resistant clay bricks containing perlite

Different methods have been investigated for achieving heat insulation in the buildings. Manufacturing of high heat conductivity resistant construction materials is an important part of these research efforts. Perlite is an extremely useful material for heat insulation and 70% of the world reserves are located in Turkey. Nearly 65% of the perlite produced today is consumed by the construction industry. Its thermal, lightness, and acoustic insulation properties make perlite an excellent material to be used as lightweight aggregate in brick manufacturing. High heat resistant brick can be produced by adding perlite into the clay in conventional brick manufacturing. In this investigation perlite of Eskişehir region and clay were collated and fired to form high heat conductivity resistant material. Binding materials such as cement, gypsum, lime, bitumen and clay were used for manufacturing perlite brick. Bricks in standard sizes manufactured at different perlite–clay ratios and unit weight, compressive strength, volume reduction and heat conductivity values were obtained. Then the mixture with the best combination of the properties was determined and cost optimization was described. Results were examined according to combination properties, and specialties of perlite bricks were determined at various weights. As a result, the best mixture was determined as the one containing 30% perlite.