Brickworks

Earth(Clay)
Stage : 1st transformation
Activity : Fabrication of clay products
Location : Briqueterie DeWulf 
Coordinates : @49.4069772, 2.1101324

Earth is left outside for about a year, where it is naturally washed Different clays have different qualities, depending on the place they are taken from Some clays are more homogeneous Some are richer in components like alumina, which presets the final aspect To start the process of transformation, the clay is placed into a pit where a conveyor belt takes it to the production line It is first crumbled, picked and cleared from stones and wood Then it is mixed with water to obtain a ductile consistency The mass is then laminated and cut with a mould The products are then dried in rooms where heat from the main oven is recycled The Hoffmann kiln has three levels : air impulse, brick galleries, and fuel In the tunnel, bricks are stacked in a way that air can circulate through Above, fuel is constantly released to maintain the fire This fire is mobile and fuel dispensers move little by little as the material is exchanged below The kiln entrance door was sealed with blocks and sand, and is open are the fire has moved further in the gallery Bricks are collected and taken out on trolleys. They will be then sorted according to their aspect A bubble, melt from the siliceous earth, is solidified. Silica gives a glossy aspect to some bricks






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