| Abstract from DBPedia | A brick is a type of block used to build walls, pavements and other elements in masonry construction. Properly, the term brick denotes a block composed of dried clay, but is now also used informally to denote other chemically cured construction blocks. Bricks can be joined using mortar, adhesives or by interlocking them. Bricks are usually produced at brickworks in numerous classes, types, materials, and sizes which vary with region and time period, and are produced in bulk quantities. Block is a similar term referring to a rectangular building unit composed of similar materials, but is usually larger than a brick. Lightweight bricks (also called lightweight blocks) are made from expanded clay aggregate. Fired bricks are one of the longest-lasting and strongest building materials, sometimes referred to as artificial stone, and have been used since circa 4000 BC. Air-dried bricks, also known as mudbricks, have a history older than fired bricks, and have an additional ingredient of a mechanical binder such as straw. Bricks are laid in courses and numerous patterns known as bonds, collectively known as brickwork, and may be laid in various kinds of mortar to hold the bricks together to make a durable structure.煉瓦（れんが）は、粘土や頁岩、泥を直方体の型に入れ、窯で焼き固めて、あるいは圧縮して作られる建築材料。焼成レンガは原料中の鉄分量および焼成時の酸素量によって色が変わる。日本においては一般的な製法を用いた場合は赤褐色となるが、世界的には白色の物など様々であり、釉薬などで着色することもできる。耐火レンガは炉材にも使われる。 日本においては、飛鳥時代から奈良時代に、磚、塼、甎（読みは全て、せん）と呼ばれていた。その後廃れ、近代化とともに再導入されたが、構造材として用いる場合は地震に弱いという難点があり、関東大震災などでは多くの被害を出したことから、煉瓦建築は小規模な建物を除いて激減した。 建材には煉瓦風のタイルも様々な種類が存在し、洋風の雰囲気を出すため、木造や鉄筋コンクリート造の表面に張り付ける仕上げ材としても用いられる。 (Source: http://dbpedia.org/resource/Brick) |
