Red Mud as a Raw Material for Bricks.

Using a new process, bricks can be produced from red mud (residue from the manufacture of alumina), fuller's earth (from oil refineries) and household refuse. The article describes the basic principles of the process and the tests that have been carried out with various mixtures. The mechanical and chemical properties of bricks made from the mixtures were investigated and the results show that excellent bricks can be manufactured from these raw materials. Thermal conductivity is better than that of the usual porous clay body without additives. Economic considerations indicate a saving of about 6 to 8 DM/t compared with bricks produced in the conventional manner.