Caracterización físico-química de los horizontes arcillosos de la formación Mesa, sector oeste de Ciudad Bolívar: Su producción y ensayos de bloques y ladrillos BTC. Proyecto industrial de fabricación de bloques cocidos de EPSI Alfarería Bolívar

Housing construction using earthy clay materials in the world, since immemorial time, has been a valid alternative, inexpensive and environmentally displaying numerous advantages. The mud and adobe are its most typical. Today the soil cement, ceramic brick, thermo-clay, BioBlock, thermite, the sudorite, compacted earth block with or without cement and other stabilizers, are common and extensive use. FUNDA-GEOMINAS, as a line of research on these unconventional materials characterization has been researching its manufacturing and laboratory tests, particularly as regards raw solid blocks, compressed, of clay materials that occur in the Mesa Formation, with sand and stabilizers of ecological interest, such as: low Portland cement (5-8%), hydrated lime (2-4%), smelting slag (3-4%), ground glass (2-4%), in which manufacturing cycle energy input is relatively low, which also generates less environmental impact, but with acceptable geomechanics resistance compared to concrete block and other blocks. The resistors obtained direct compression (3 to 7.83 MPa), flexural (0.35 to 0.79 MPa) and its relatively low water absorption values (5.5 to 7.6%), high impact strength (1.0 to 5.67 m), among others, give interesting properties for use in construction and walls in areas of abundant reserves of sand and clay materials, mainly. The BTC block, now in the spotlight worldwide, is the main goal as a structural material and alternative bio-climatic and ornamental. The industrial manufacture of hollow blocks cooked (55,296 units/ day) in the plant under construction (ALFABOLIVAR) is an important project with local raw material in order to supply the country and export possibilities.