Several Key Steps in Brick Production

Several Key Steps in Brick Production

The first crucial step in brick production is the preparation and blending of raw materials. The soil, sand, or other additives used for brick making need to be treated to remove large stones, grass roots, and other impurities. The key is adjusting the moisture content of the raw materials to the appropriate range, typically to the point where they "can be formed into a ball when squeezed in the hand, but crumble when dropped." This is fundamental to ensuring successful subsequent molding. Sometimes, a small amount of cement or hardener is added to improve the final strength of the bricks.

The second core step is pressing and molding. The blended raw materials are fed into the molds of the brick-making machine and pressed into regularly shaped brick blanks under considerable pressure. This stage requires careful control of pressure and holding time. Insufficient pressure will result in loose brick blanks, while excessive pressure or poor air venting may lead to internal cracks. Operators need to check whether the pressed brick blanks have sharp edges and uniform weight; this is a crucial step in ensuring quality.

After molding, the brick blanks enter the curing stage, an essential process for them to acquire sufficient strength. Freshly pressed wet brick blanks need to be carefully transported to a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight to air dry naturally, allowing the moisture to evaporate slowly and preventing cracking due to excessive drying. Afterwards, depending on the process, they may need to be watered or stored naturally for a period of time to gradually harden and reach a usable, sturdy state. The entire production process is interconnected, and the control of each step directly affects the quality of the final bricks.