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Do you really use earth in compressed earth blocks?

pollinator

Posts: 337

Location: SW Washington State

posted 11 years ago

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I have been looking at a number of machines that will make compressed earth blocks (bricks). They each have a similar recipe - concrete, sand and gravel. I know that each of this is made from the earth but I was under the impression that soil could be used as one of the ingredients of CEB. Is that correct?

R Scott

pollinator

Posts: 4148

Location: Kansas Zone 6a

328

posted 11 years ago

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Clay, sand, a little water. Cement is optional as a binder. Your recipe sounds like cinder blocks. I found many of those, too, when looking for CEB plans.

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Tom Connolly

pollinator

Posts: 337

Location: SW Washington State

posted 11 years ago

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Thanks. About 3 months ago I discovered some research done by engineers in the middle east who found that by adding carbon fibers to bricks they could almost double their strength. Has anyone considered this with ceb technology?

R Scott

pollinator

Posts: 4148

Location: Kansas Zone 6a

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posted 11 years ago

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Carbon fiber, no. But I have seen similar with fiberglass or natural fiber. Chopped glass definitely makes concrete stronger, not sure if it bonds with earth well enough. No fun working with it and mixing it dry--that is lung cancer waiting to happen.

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