CHARACTERISTICS IMPROVEMENT OF BUILDING MATERIALS FABRICATED FROM AGRICULTURAL RESIDUES

For improving the qualities of the straw brick (as control), three waste materials and sand were used to replace partially the straw. The waste materials are rubber, glass and mix of rubber and glass. The replacement ratios were 15, 30 and 45 % by weight basis. After carrying out the replacements, the bricks were tested for each of the following characteristic: bulk density, water absorption percentage, compressive stress, thermal conductivity and acoustical insulation percentage. Generally the resulted bricks were superior for the previously mentioned characteristics than the control brick. Replacing sand into the straw brick (control) resulted in less water absorption; less thermal conductivity and more acoustical insulation percentage while replacing a mix of glass and rubber resulted in more compressive stress in comparison with the control brick.