Abstract
This thesis deals with the technical and ecological properties of a new recycling brick, which was developed by the Leipfinger-Bader company in Lower Bavaria. The brick is called “Kaltziegel” because there is no firing process necessary for its production. The raw materials consist recycled brick fines, which occur when buildings are demolished or occur as a side product of the brick production. The primary aim is to clarify whether the brick is a suitable climate-friendly alternative to conventional bricks, which are very energy-intensive to produce. First, common re-use methods of brick fines were developed and analyzed. Furthermore, research papers on this topic were sought and their results integrated. Based on its technical data, it was finally worked out which areas of application the “cold brick” is suitable for and how the new product compares to conventional fired bricks and to recycled bricks, which are already on the market. The issue of approval is also addressed. It is being checked if it is realistic to get an approval to sell the new brick in Austria and what is needed to get an approval. The main focus of the work is on the ecological assessment of the product. For this purpose, the entire life cycle was analyzed according to EN ISO 15804. Data for the life cycle assessment comes from the EPD data of the raw materials as well as the self-determined emissions of machines and transport. The environmental indicators obtained are compared with the values of existing products. For better illustration, the CO2 equivalents are extrapolated to a standard detached house. In addition, the cost influence of the current CO2 pricing by January 2024 is also listed.The studies, which were part of the master's thesis, have shown that the “cold brick” is definitely an alternative to conventional bricks. The technical data as well as the life cycle indicators speak in favor of using the product, even if there is still a need for optimization in some areas.
| Date of Award | Apr 2024 |
|---|---|
| Original language | German (Austria) |
| Supervisor | Khaled Saleh Pascha (Supervisor) |