For many decades ceramic solid brick has been considered one of the most popular building materials. After reading today's article, you will learn about the main advantages and disadvantages of such products.
What is this material?
It should be understood that ceramic solid brick is a product in which there are no voids. It is made from refractory environmentally friendly clay. Usually this material is widely used for the construction of external and internal walls, so it can be called universal.
Due to their excellent bearing capacity and the unique characteristics inherent in such products, they are successfully used for the construction of any objects, including basements, warehouses and industrial premises, as well as laying out the foundation. But due to the fact that the number of voids in this brick does not exceed 13%, it is characterized by high thermal conductivity, so it is not able to provide adequate protection from either heat or frost.
Production Features
Let's make a reservation right awaythat a brick factory is engaged in the manufacture of such products. The technology itself includes a number of fairly complex processes, the sequence of which affects the quality of the final products.
It is important to properly prepare the raw materials extracted and delivered to the enterprise for subsequent molding and heat treatment. To do this, clay, previously freed from stony inclusions, must be moistened with steam so that it acquires maximum plasticity.
Then it is sent for further, fully automated molding of raw bricks. The raw material strip is cut into blanks of a certain size. Moreover, they should be slightly larger than the final product, since the clay, which has passed all the technological stages, shrinks slightly.
The resulting workpiece is sent for drying. This is a rather lengthy process, the acceleration of which can lead to cracking of the product. The product is then placed in a special kiln, where the temperature reaches thousands of degrees.
In addition, a modern brick factory can apply the so-called semi-dry pressing technology. It includes such steps as moistening the raw material, followed by grinding it into powder, molding semi-finished products and firing.
Diversity of assortment
Today, several varieties of such products are produced. Depending on the size, on sale you can find a single ceramic brick, modular, thickened, and so on.called the Euro version. According to thermal characteristics, all products are divided into ordinary and efficient.
In addition, there is another classification. Depending on the application, ordinary solid, front and special ceramic bricks are produced. The first is designed for the construction of internal elements of enclosing and load-bearing structures, the second is for the construction of fences and facade cladding, while the third is ideal for use in high temperatures.
Advantages and disadvantages of this material
Currently, solid ceramic bricks have ousted their hollow counterpart from the construction market. This is due to the fact that it has a number of undeniable advantages. The main advantages of such products include environmental friendliness, excellent sound insulation and high strength, due to which it is successfully used for building foundations, building basement floors, laying chimneys and chimneys.
Like any other material, ceramic bricks also have disadvantages. One of the main disadvantages is the relatively high cost of such products. In addition, it is prone to efflorescence. Therefore, a single ceramic solid brick needs a high-quality mortar. Otherwise, over time, the wall will take on a not very aesthetic appearance. In a major construction process, it is important to use cladding material from the same lot, otherwise you may experience shade problems.
Helpful tips
In the process of laying a brick wall, it is desirable to use a hard cement-sand mortar. In this case, it is important to ensure that the thickness of the seams is about eight millimeters.
It should not be overlooked that the high strength of the walls significantly complicates the process of chasing the grooves necessary for laying utilities. Therefore, this should be considered at the stage of construction of the building.
In addition, solid brick laying involves plastering and painting. This is due to the fact that a material in which there are no voids does not adhere well enough to the solution.
