Non-clay bricks with high compressive strength made from secondary aluminum dross and waste glass

There are few reports relating non-clay bricks with high compressive strength made from waste materials. In this research, secondary aluminum dross (SAD) and waste glass are explored as materials for non-clay bricks, to protect the raw clay resource, consume the generated wastes, and seek high-quality products. The influence of different raw materials and preparation conditions on the physical, mechanical, and environmental properties of fired bricks was examined carefully. It was detected that bricks made from SAD and glass performed better than SAD and clay bricks. The brick sample incorporating 80 wt.% SAD and 20 wt.% waste glass fired at 950 °C possessed excellent physical properties and reached the peak of compressive strength at 93.7 MPa, much higher than the criteria of ASTM C 62, showing great potential in practical application. A majority of hazardous materials were removed during the firing process so that the harmlessness and utilization of SAD were realized at the same time. This study provided the strategy and analysis of non-clay bricks with high compressive strength made from wastes, promoting material cycles and waste management.