Sustainable valorization of sugarcane bagasse ash and GGBS in the production of quaternary blended fly ash bricks

In recent years, there has been a scarcity of fly ash in India, which has been hampering the production of FaL-G bricks. This study addresses this challenge by partially substituting fly ash in the production of FaL-G bricks with sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), offering a sustainable alternative for conventional burnt clay bricks. Six mix compositions were developed by substituting fly ash with SCBA (2.5–15% by weight), GGBS maintained at 15% by weight in all mixes and thoroughly characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis. The results show that the use of up to 10% SCBA with 15% GGBS by weight results in bricks with acceptable mechanical and durability properties. Although SCBA (12.5–15% by weight) resulted in higher porosity (18–27%) and lower density (12–15%), the compressive strength was found to be 8–11 MPa. The optimal mix containing 10% SCBA by weight had balanced properties, such as 9.5% water absorption, 0.096% drying shrinkage, and 91.42% chemical resistance. Moreover, the bricks produced exhibited approximately 88% lower embodied carbon compared to clay bricks, ensuring the feasibility of the produced bricks as eco-friendly materials for the circular economy.