bricks

Bricks are rectangular blocks used primarily in masonry constructions. Most bricks are made from clay, shale, or concrete, and are designed to be durable, fire resistant, and easy to handle. They are typically laid with mortar to form walls, arches, and pavements.

Common brick materials include clay bricks, which may be formed by extrusion or molding and fired in kilns; calcium silicate or lime-sand bricks; and concrete bricks manufactured from cement, aggregates, and water. Variants include hollow bricks for insulation, perforated bricks for reduced weight, and facing bricks with colored or glazed surfaces.

Manufacture involves preparing a raw material mix, forming into the desired shape (soft mud or stiff mud extrusion, pressed blocks, or molded bricks), drying to reduce moisture, and firing at high temperature to harden and vitrify the body. Some modern bricks are produced using alternative binders or non-fired processes for sustainability.

Key properties include compressive strength, density, porosity, and water absorption, which influence structural suitability and thermal performance. Thermal conductivity, freeze–thaw resistance, and durability are considered in design, and specifications vary by regional standards and class systems.

Bricks are used for walls, facades, partitions, archways, and pavements. Bond patterns (running, Flemish, English, etc.) govern placement and strength. Building codes typically specify brick type, nominal size, strength, and moisture considerations.

The brick has ancient origins in Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley, with fired clay bricks appearing in the third millennium BCE. Industrial production, mechanized kilns, and standardized sizes emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries, enabling mass masonry worldwide.