Researchers at the University of Sharjah are testing a new type of masonry brick that uses desert sand and avoids ordinary Portland cement. The team reports that its strongest formulation delivered about 30% greater flexural strength than comparable Portland cement bricks, along with resistance to sulfate attack, a common driver of deterioration in saline soils and groundwater.
The bricks rely on alkali-activated binders, using ground granulated blast-furnace slag and fly ash as replacements for conventional cement. Professor Mohamad Arab explained that alkaline solutions trigger chemical reactions in those materials, forming rock-like binding phases that hold the desert sand together. The bricks also cure at ambient temperature, which avoids the heat treatment used for many construction products.
The study, published in the Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, focuses on masonry units for arid regions where desert sand is plentiful. Desert sand has long been a challenge for conventional concrete mixes because its grains are smoother and more rounded than river or crushed sand, reducing internal friction and weakening typical cement-based mixtures. Instead of trying to change the sand, the researchers redesigned the binder system.
Beyond strength, testing found low water absorption and stable performance through repeated wet-and-dry cycles. The researchers also reported that the bricks complied with ASTM performance requirements for masonry units under the conditions tested.
For mason contractors and design teams watching low-carbon material options, the next data points matter: manufacturing consistency, long-term durability, and jobsite performance. The University of Sharjah has started preparing pilot-scale production and plans field testing to evaluate scalability and commercial feasibility, including where the material fits alongside conventional masonry products.
Read the full, original article from ColombiaOne.com here.