*2.2. Mixing and Specimen Preparation Procedure*

Different proportions of raw materials were used to make bricks, as shown in Table 2. The collected waste materials, cement, and water were mixed using a pan mixer until a consistent mixture was obtained. It was noted that to maintain the same amount of mixture consistency, for each trial, the amount of added water was 3 to 4 liters for a weight of 21 kg, and the amount of water used in each trial varied depending on the materials used. A conveyor belt was used to transport the mixed materials to the compression system for compacting, and bricks were cast using a hydraulic pressing machine with a 2200 psi

pressure. The amount of compression that one brick was subjected to varied depending on the size of the materials. A total of 120 bricks (24 in each mixing ratio) were produced, each brick weighing approximately 3.5 kg. The produced bricks were taken and stacked for curing for 21 days to ensure a high-quality product [16]. A plastic sheet was laid in an area close to the brick-making unit and was covered immediately with a jute sack to prevent the bricks from drying too quickly. They were watered once every day for seven days, and to ensure a well-cured brick, they were left under plastic for eleven days [12]. Figure 2 depicts the specimen preparation process.


**Table 2.** Materials composition of various trails.

**Figure 2.** Specimen preparation process: (**a**) mixing of materials, (**b**) casting of bricks, and (**c**) curing of bricks.
