Key Aspects and Essentials of Brick Quality Control

Key Aspects and Essentials of Brick Quality Control

Ensuring stable and reliable brick quality is a task that requires systematic control throughout the entire production process. Its core is not merely relying on final inspection to eliminate defective products, but rather proactively intervening at every key production stage. Through standardized operations and continuous monitoring, quality problems are prevented at the source. The key to quality control lies in the meticulous management of three crucial stages: raw materials, molding, and curing.

The first key aspect is the control and proportioning of raw materials. The "constitution" of a brick is determined from the source. The composition and particle size of the soil, sand, or other materials used for brick making need to remain relatively stable. Large stones, grass roots, and other impurities in the raw materials must be effectively removed, as they can create defects inside the brick blank. The most crucial point is controlling the moisture content (moisture percentage) of the raw materials. Too high a moisture content will cause the brick blank to deform and crack during pressing and subsequent drying; too low a moisture content will make it difficult to press and shape, resulting in a loose brick blank. Experience suggests that the ideal moisture content is when the brick can be formed into a ball when squeezed in the hand but crumbles when dropped. If the formula includes cement, admixtures, etc., they must be added accurately according to a predetermined ratio using weighing tools and thoroughly mixed to ensure that the "formula" of each batch is completely consistent. This is the foundation for guaranteeing the uniform quality of the entire batch of bricks.

The second core step is parameter control and on-site inspection during the molding process. This is the decisive stage in giving the bricks their density and regular shape. After the prepared raw materials are fed into the brick press, the pressure and holding time of the equipment must be precisely adjusted according to the actual condition of the raw materials. Insufficient pressure will lead to a loose internal structure and substandard strength in the brick; excessive pressure or poor venting may leave hidden cracks inside. Operators need to regularly and quantitatively check the freshly pressed brick blanks: checking whether their edges and corners are clear and complete, whether the surface is flat and smooth, whether the dimensions meet the specifications, and whether the weight of a single brick fluctuates within the allowable range. A very effective internal quality control method is to periodically cut open a few brick blanks to visually inspect whether their interior is dense, and whether there are any voids or delamination. These immediate checks are the most direct means of identifying problems and adjusting parameters.

The third indispensable step is the curing and final inspection of the brick blanks. After the brick blanks are formed, their strength needs to be fully developed through scientific curing. Freshly pressed wet brick blanks are very fragile and must be transported smoothly to a well-ventilated curing area, away from direct sunlight and rain, for a natural "air drying" process. This allows the moisture to evaporate slowly and evenly, which is crucial to prevent shrinkage cracks caused by rapid drying. Afterward, depending on the process requirements, several to dozens of days of watering or natural storage may be required to allow them to fully harden. Finally, before the finished products leave the factory, strict appearance and strength inspections must be carried out: defective products with defects, cracks, or deformations are manually removed; and random samples of bricks can be subjected to simple drop or load-bearing tests to verify whether their resistance to breakage meets the usage requirements. By solidifying the key points of the above steps into clear operating procedures and strictly implementing them, the stability and reliability of brick quality can be systematically guaranteed.