Development of sustainable fired clay bricks by adding kindling from vine shoot: Study of thermal and mechanical properties

• Fired clay bricks made by adding kindling from vine shoots have been developed.
• Bricks thermal conductivity has been reduced up to 62% with 11% of waste added.
• Compressive strength is above 5 N/mm2, but wall requires coating due to water absorption.
• Bricks did not show any defect such as efflorescence, cracks or bloating effects.
• A new way for recycling kindling from vine shoots due to brick industry is shown.

This paper studies the addition of kindling from vine shoots in the production of fired clay bricks in order to achieve a better insulation of the buildings enclosure and a new way for recycling vine shoots, a waste which is widely produced in vineyards. Therefore, the influence of kindling addition on the thermal and mechanical properties of the fired clay bricks has been investigated in partnership with a local brick factory.As result, it could be concluded that the amount of kindling that can be added is around 11%, whereby the brick's mechanical and physical properties abide by settled regulations for structural clay bricks, in accordance with current regulations. The added waste has improved bricks conductivity properties by reducing it up to 62% compared to the brick made without any waste. This means an improvement up to 34% for the equivalent thermal transmittance of a typical single-leaf wall assembly.