Brick Manufacturing Product Quality Control: Monitoring Methods for Key Quality Points in the Production Process

Brick Manufacturing Product Quality Control: Monitoring Methods for Key Quality Points in the Production Process

To consistently produce qualified bricks, the key lies in the continuous monitoring of several important stages of the production process. The first hurdle is the raw materials. The moisture content and particle size of the raw materials should be checked regularly to ensure they meet the preset mixing ratio standards. Excessive or insufficient moisture will affect subsequent molding. The simple rule of thumb, "it clumps together when squeezed in your hand, but crumbles when dropped," can serve as a quick daily assessment. Simultaneously, care should be taken to ensure that the raw materials are free of excessive weeds, large hard objects, and other impurities.

The molding stage is the core of quality control. Close observation and adjustment of the brick press's pressure and holding time are necessary. Insufficient pressure will result in loose, low-strength bricks; excessive pressure may cause poor air release, leading to internal cracks. Operators should indirectly judge the molding effect by checking whether the edges of the pressed bricks are neat, the surface is smooth, and whether the weight of the bricks is stable. At the beginning of each batch and a few hours later, a sample of bricks should be cut open to check for internal density, delamination, or voids.

Subsequent maintenance is just as important as final inspection. During the drying and curing stages, brick blanks should be protected from direct sunlight and strong winds to prevent cracking due to rapid moisture loss. Before leaving the warehouse, finished bricks need to undergo a simple yet effective inspection. In addition to observing the appearance for defects, cracks, and deformation, a few bricks can be randomly selected for impact or drop tests to check their strength against breakage. Recording the results of all these inspections helps to quickly trace the root cause of problems and continuously improve the production process.