Enzyme and Polymer Contributions and Improvements in Adobe Materials
Mudbrick has become an important material in construction as environmental pollution increases. One of the weakest aspects of the adobe material is its ability to absorb water. When water comes in contact with the soil it can often cause the soil to lose cohesion, which leads to a considerable decrease in strength.
In this study, additives comprised of enzymes and polymers were used to increase the water resistance in adobe structures. Furthermore, samples were produced to compare the results without any additives. The specimens were left for 30 days to gain strength prior to performing water absorption and pressure tests. A chemical analysis has been carried out in order to understand the content of the soil used in the sample production. It can be concluded that the additives used in the tests result in adobes with higher water resistance. The enzyme used in the experiments forms a chemical reaction with the minerals, water and soil. The polymers used in the experiments are also environmental friendly. Therefore, the additives used for the experiment are harmless to human health. They interact with the minerals in the soil to strengthen the material.