Innovation

Scientists have developed a method of producing bricks from walnut shells

A group of Russian and Nigerian scientists proposed an original method of manufacturing lightweight stone bricks. Crushed walnut shells are used in their production. Their thermal insulation has been improved.
According to the journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research, the "new design" bricks are not only lighter than traditional bricks, but also have improved thermal insulation properties.
Unused waste accumulates in huge volumes, about 2600 thousand tons per year. The main element of the new bricks is laterite, a clay rich in iron and aluminum, writes Planeta Today. It was decided to use crushed shells as an additive to the new mixture for burning. The composite is pressed in a hydraulic press under a pressure of 15 MPa, dried at 110°C and fired in an electric furnace at a temperature of 950°C or 1100°C.
The first experiments showed that the shell of the walnut improves the thermal insulation properties of the brick. This product fully meets the standard requirements developed for ceramic bricks.

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