ABSTRACT
Structural clay products or building ceramics are basically fabricated by moulding, drying and burning a clay mass. According to the method of manufacture and structure, bricks, tiles, pipes, terracotta, earthenwares, stonewares, porcelain, and majolica are well recognized and employed in building construction. By their origin, clays are subdivided as residual and transported clays. On the basis of resistance to high temperatures, clays are classified as refractory, high melting and low melting clays. Clay bricks are classified as first class, second class, third class and fourth class as per prevalent practice. The classification of bricks on the basis of compressive strength is shown. For the preparation of bricks, clay or other suitable earth is moulded to the desired shape after subjecting it to several processes. The process of moulding of bricks may be the soft-mud, the stiff-mud or the dry-press process. Clay products can be dried in open air driers or in artificial driers.
