Moisture Absorption, Shrinkage Ratio and Compressive Strength of Cement Stabilized Laterite Bricks Mixed with Spent Engine Oil

Abstract

Spent engine oil is one of the waste products that create environmental problems due to improper disposal methods. Oils are known to reduce moisture diffusivity, however, and sufficient experimental data is required to prove this. Moisture diffusion, which causes moisture movement into storage facilities, is a known problem in the bulk storage of dried products. This study investigated the effect of spent engine oil (SEO) on cement stabilized laterite bricks with respect to moisture absorption, volumetric shrinkage, and compressive strength for possible use in constructing storage structures. SEO addition was varied at 0. 0, 0.2, and 0.4 kg by the weight of cement. Likewise, samples were produced at varied mix ratios of 0:5, 1:5, and 2:5 of cement and laterite, respectively. Water quantity was also varied at 0.35, 0.4, and 0.45. Moisture absorption decreased with an increase in spent engine oil addition, and shrinkage ratio decreased gradually with an increase in cement quantity. Except for a few instances, spent oil addition resulted in compressive strength degradation of the bricks. Shrinkage in samples at spent oil addition of 0.2 and 0.4 kg was minimal. It was concluded that the addition of 0.2 kg spent engine oil at the mixing ratio of 2:5:0.4 (cement:laterite: w.ter) is most suitable for structural purposes if moisture inhibition is a desirable property in brick production because of reduced level of degradation in brick strength.