Properties of Adobe Produced with Soils Mixing and Addition of Biopolymers

Abstract

The conventional construction (ceramic/concrete brick, reinforced concrete and steel) is responsible for high energy consumption and waste pro- duction. The present work aims at the production of earth bricks without going through a burning process (adobe), a material considered more sustainable, with the addition of biopolymers. It was studied adobe produced with sandy soil from Bauru-SP (Brazil), stabilized with two different biopolymers, castor oil (OR) and used cooking oil (OVU), and clay soil from Barra Bonita-SP (Brazil). With the Bauru soil, 4 traces of 6 adobes were produced: 0% biopolymer, 2% OR, 4% OR and 2% OVU. With a mixture of 60% of the Bauru soil and 40% of the Barra Bonita soil, another 3 traces were produced: 0% of biopolymer, 2% of OVU and 4% of OVU. Physical and mechanical characteristics of the soils and adobes were determined. The addition of biopolymers in all traces improved the performance of adobes in relation to water (reduced water absorption), but impaired mechanical performance (reduced compressive strength). The trace that less reduced the resistance was 2% OVU with the mixture of the two soils.