| Raw Material Preparation
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The manufacturing of brick begins with the gathering of surface clays and shales from the quarry. Raw materials are transported to storage areas in preparation for crushing. The crusher breaks up the large chunks of clay or shale and passes it to conveyors heading for the grinders. The grinders or 'Muller Wheels' pulverize the material to a fine consistency. The pulverized material passes over a vibrating screen in which the fine material passes through to the next step and the coarse material is returned to the grinder to be reground.
Up to this point the material has been kept dry. Once screened, the material is sent to the pug mill where it will be tempered to make a homogeneous plastic mass ready for shaping in the required brick form. The pug mill consists of a chamber that houses one or two revolving shafts with blades rigidly attached, which thoroughly mix the material. Water is added to provide the proper plasticity and materials, such as manganese, are added to change the body color.
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gathering raw materials
storage of raw materials
crushing
grinding
screening
pug mill
pug mill -- wetting dry materials
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