In 1952, the invention of a type of brick that did not require mortar for wall construction and was used through adhesion and interlocking created a significant transformation in the construction industry. Unlike traditional bricks, interlocking bricks did not harm the environment and had both external and internal advantages, which quickly made them popular in developed countries. Today, Cse bricks are also used in construction, building facades, paving, and wall construction in our country.

Components of Interlocking Blocks and Bricks

In the production of interlocking bricks, 80% of the composition is soil or mining residues. Cement and stone powder are combined with this mixture at a ratio of 20%. Other materials, such as water, are added in smaller percentages as needed, depending on the requirements.

Stages of Producing Interlocking Bricks and Blocks

Stages of Producing Lego Bricks:

• Starting Production:

The production cycle begins with the entry of sand and gravel mining residues or waste from stone cutting factories into the production workshop.

• Material Grading:

These residues are passed through a screening device to ensure that only materials that meet the standard size (4 mm) enter the production cycle.

• Mixing Materials:

Up to this point, 80% of the raw materials, which are residues, have entered the production cycle. In this stage, they are mixed with cement at a ratio of 20% and a small amount of water in a mixer.

• Shaping:

The mixed raw materials are subjected to controlled pressure by a special press machine, and the product is shaped according to the specified mold.

• Curing:

In this stage, the curing process takes place. The bricks are left in the open air for one hour without any pressure. Then, they are placed in a closed space with relative humidity to complete the cement hydration process and reach their final strength.

• Packaging:

In this stage, the bricks can be packaged in two ways

1. Placing the bricks on pallets.
2. Packaging with shrink wrap in smaller dimensions.

Standard Dimensions of Interlocking Bricks

Interlocking bricks produced by brick manufacturing machines have standard dimensions of 25 * 12.5 * 8 cm. However, these are the defined standard dimensions for Lego bricks, and depending on the brick mold, you may see various sizes available in the market.

Lego Brick Molds

In the image above, you can see various molds for interlocking bricks. The most common and widely used molds are numbers 1, 2, 3, and 24. Below, I will briefly introduce the uses of these four brick molds:

• Mold No. 1:

This mold is used for building walls, particularly in the middle sections.

• Mold No. 2:

 is used in the upper sections, under installations, windows, etc.

• Mold No. 3:

This  is used in the side sections of walls where complete bricks cannot be used.

• Mold No. 24:

 used for paving areas.

Color Options for Interlocking Bricks

You can produce interlocking bricks in any color you prefer to match your or your customers’ tastes. To do this, simply add the desired dye powder to the raw materials.

Impact of Interlocking Bricks on the Environment

Good news for environmental enthusiasts: interlocking bricks, unlike traditional bricks, do not have a negative impact on the environment. This is because traditional bricks need to be fired in kilns, which release additional CO₂ greenhouse gases as well as some carbon monoxide and particulates into the atmosphere. However, these Cse bricks are made using brick-making machines without kilns; therefore, they do not require fuel and do not emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

According to the Building Technology Center (CTE) in 2011, more than one-third of the gas causing global warming is due to construction activities. However, using these types of bricks can significantly reduce this percentage. Another advantage of these bricks is the management of mining residues. As mentioned, a high percentage of the raw materials for interlocking bricks come from mining residues, preventing these residues from harming the environment.

Reducing Construction Costs

According to research conducted by the Auroville Institute in India, the cost of constructing a 1-square-meter wall with interlocking bricks is approximately 23.6% cheaper than using regular bricks for the same area.
Additionally, some studies indicate that constructing a 1-square-meter wall with cse bricks requires five times fewer bricks and consumes 15% less energy. It is also worth mentioning that wall construction with interlocking bricks requires significantly less mortar compared to regular bricks, eliminating the need for high costs associated with purchasing and transporting mortar. Therefore, consumers can carry out their construction projects at a lower cost while maintaining higher quality.

Income from Producing Interlocking Bricks

Whether you are a consumer or a manufacturer, you will benefit.

Using interlocking bricks is a win-win situation that not only reduces construction costs for consumers but also profits manufacturers. The production of these green bricks is often carried out with fully automated machines, requiring minimal human intervention, which significantly reduces labor costs. On the other hand, the raw materials are available in unlimited supply at very low costs; therefore, you pay less for production but gain substantial profits. In fact, as a manufacturer, you can earn 2 to 3 times more than the cost incurred for production.