What is it about?
What if construction materials could come from what we throw away? This study shows that coal mine waste and slag from power plants, usually seen as environmental burdens, can be turned into strong and durable bricks. These bricks are made without natural sand or firing in kilns, helping save energy and resources. By using advanced statistical modeling, we created mixes that reduce water absorption, lower carbon emissions, and still meet strength requirements. This offers a practical and sustainable way to build using materials already available in abundance.
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Why is it important?
Imagine building our cities using what we once considered waste? This study turns that idea into reality. We used coal mine waste and slag from power plants, which are often discarded and harmful to the environment, to create bricks that are strong, durable, and environmentally friendly. These bricks are made without natural sand and without the need for high temperature firing. Through careful statistical analysis, we identified mixtures that reduce water absorption, lower carbon emissions, and still meet construction standards. This work offers a practical and sustainable direction for the construction industry using materials that are already widely available.
Perspectives
We throw away too much. This project proves we no longer need to. Turning waste into bricks without using sand or heat is more than efficient. It is essential. If we can build with what we once buried, imagine what else we can reimagine. Moving forward begins when we stop accepting limits that no longer serve us.
Van Minh Nguyen
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Development and multi-objective optimization of unfired bricks using coal waste and power plant slag as sand replacements, Construction and Building Materials, September 2025, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.142831.
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