Using Arundo donax as Agricultural and Industrial Waste as Expanded Polystyrene in the Production of Cement Bricks

In this study, natural coarse aggregates were to some extent substituted with industrial waste materials and agricultural waste materials to come up with sustainable compositions of cement bricks. Seven experimental mixes were prepared, which were divided into two groups and a control mix. The former group was a partial replacement of traditional coarse aggregate (CA) with Expanded Polystyrene coarse aggregate (EXCA), where the substitution levels were 5%,7.5% and 10% percent and the other group was the substitution of Arundo donax coarse aggregate (ARCA) by the same ratio. Systematic testing was conducted on compressive strength, sorptivity, unit weight, and thermal conductivity properties of the bricks. The results revealed that the gradual decrease in compressive strength with increasing percentages of EX and AR aggregates occurred at the expense of the control mix. Replacing 10% of natural coarse aggregates with EX and AR reduced compressive strength by 46.7% and 44.0%, respectively. The 10% EXCA mix had the lowest density of 2000 kg/m³ (the control had 2189 kg/m³) and the best thermal conductivity reduction of 17.64% from 1.38 W/m.K to 1.13 W/m.K, indicating a better insulation result. Equally, the blend with 5% percent of ADCA had a density of 2100 kg/m³ and a thermal conductivity that was 11.47% lower than the conduction of 1.38 W/m.K. These findings indicate the promise of EX and AR waste as using sustainable alternative to the traditional aggregates in the manufacture of lightweight and energy-efficient cement bricks to be used in modern constructions.