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Southampton Solent University. Southampton Solent University with the Good Earth Trust promotes projects in Africa that utilise interlocking rammed earth blocks. Commercial brick kilns Oil fired / coffee husks?. Quarried stone blocks. Transport?. Deforestation. Release of CO 2.
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Southampton Solent University with the Good Earth Trust promotes projects in Africa that utilise interlocking rammed earth blocks
Deforestation Release of CO2
The interlocks between the earth blocks reduces the need for 10+mm mortar joints as can be seen here with fired bricks
Hand made un-stabilised blocks in Eastern Chad HAT & BOOTS!
Lime and cement stabilisers are normally used, but research into the use of enzymes and polymers is being conducted to provide innovative low carbon alternatives to cement.Also, there is significant research into the production of low carbon cements
Lime stabilisation:Calcium carbonate in varioustypes of limestone are burnt andslaked to produce hydrated, hydraulic or natural-hydraulic limes (NHL). Normally, NHL is mixed with the soil to produce stabilised blocks.
Low carbon cements: In a drive to reduce the environmental impact of cement, different low carbon alternatives are being developed. These will have a dramatic effect on the amount of CO2 used in stabilising ISSB earth blocks.
Enzymes: These are bio-molecules or proteins that will create a catalytic chemical reaction in soils to produce blocks of similar strength and durability to cement or lime stabilised blocks.
Polymers: Geopolymers are based on lumino silicates that create a chemical process to turn them into a binder that does not release CO2, and takes place at temperatures lower than that needed for cement production. 300 kg of CO2 per tonne is emitted, compared with 700+ kg for OPC.
Two materials are used to create a geo-polymeric cross-linking of clay soils. Sodium hydroxide, NaOH (caustic soda) is mixed with lime and a reaction takes place at low temperatures in excess of 25°c to stabilise blocks
Surface treatments: Not only can the durability of a block be improved by stabilisation, the application of various coatings will also improve them. 4:1 old engine oil/diesel mix proves very effective
Engine oil and unfinished after erosion.Plain Lime Cement
Conclusions:There is a need for a dedicated research project into different low carbon alternatives to stabilising Interlocking StabilisedCompressed Earth Blocks
‘my dad says this stabilised earth block wall has been here for 14 years’