Journal Material Science | Open Access Publishers

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SUITABILITY OF MAIZE COB ASH AS A PARTIAL CEMENT REPLACEMENT

John Kamau and Ash Ahmed*

Department of civil engineering, Leeds Beckett University, UK

Submission: August 24, 2017; Published: September 18, 2017

*Corresponding author: Ash Ahmed, Department of civil engineering, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, England, UK, Email: A.R.Ahmed@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

How to cite this article: John K, Ash A. SUITABILITY OF MAIZE COB ASH AS A PARTIAL CEMENT REPLACEMENT. JOJ Material Sci. 2017; 2(5): 555599. DOI:10.19080/JOJMS.2017.02.555599

Abstract

Cement is the most utilised construction material, and the second most consumed global commodity after water. Its demand has soared proportionately with the exponential rise in population to match required development. The heavily energy-intensive processes involved in its production contribute to about 7 to 10 per cent (%) of the total global emissions, with potentially adverse environmental implications and are expensive economically. These processes and those of concrete production consume heavily on natural resources such as sand, gravel, water, coal and crushed rock, the mining of which mars the environment. It is however possible, that energy and cost efficiency can be achieved by reducing on the amount of clinker, and in its place utilising Partial Cement Replacement (PCR) materials that require less process heating and emit fewer levels of carbon dioxide (CO2). This study investigated the ability of corncob ash to be used as a PCR, by testing for either pozzolanic or cementitious properties. Experiments were carried out by replacing cement by weight in concrete mixes with corncob ash at 5%, 7.5%, 10%, 15% and 20% steps at the point of need. The results were compared with a control specimen made with no cement replacement. Durability was tested using the sulfate elongation test. The highest compressive strength was observed at the 7.5% replacement. However, higher replacement levels also showed impressive strengths suitable for structural applications. The sulfate elongation test results showed good performance for all corn cob ash specimens in comparison to the control mix. These findings showed good reproducibility and highlight the potential of corncob ash as an effective pozzolan.

Keywords: Corncob ash; Pozzolans; Cementitious materials; Maize cob ash; Partial cement replacements

Introduction

Cement, a major constituent of concrete, is pivotal to development and is produced in virtually all countries. One ton of concrete on average is produced every year for every human being in the world. Cement is deemed to have a considerably high carbon footprint, contributing immensely to global anthropogenic CO₂ [1-5]. Utilisation of Partial Cement Replacements (PCRs) reduces solid waste, cuts on greenhouse gas emissions and conserves existing natural resources, thereby enhancing sustainability as well as improving the properties of fresh and hardened concrete. This paper investigated the suitability of Corn Cob Ash (CCA) for use as a PCR in Africa, where it is available in abundance [6-10].

Methods

Cement was substituted with PCRs by weight in percentages of 0, 5, 7.5, 10, 15 and 20, with the 0% being the control specimen. For sulfate elongation tests, specimen prisms of 160 x 40 x 40 were cured for seven days before being immersed in 5% Na₂SO₄, 5% MgSO₄ and 5% +5% Na₂SO₄ and MgSO₄. Length change due to sulphates was measured to ASTM-C1012/C1012M (2013) at 133 days. All preparation and testing were done in accordance with BS EN 197-1:2000, BS EN 12390 series and ASTM C1012 [11-15].

Chemical analysis

The sum of SiO₂+Al₂O₃+Fe₂O₃ for the CCA sample used for this study was 54.1%, and therefore did not satisfy the pozzolanic recommendations of ASTM (2012) and BSI (2000a) of SiO₂+Al₂O₃+Fe₂O₃ 70%, but it did satisfy some requirements of both pozzolanic and cementitious materials. However, the method used to incinerate the CCA may have affected its chemical composition as the CCA used by other researchers achieved these values.

Results and Discussion

Table 1 and Figure 1 show the compressive strengths achieved at different ages with different CCA replacements. The highest compressive strength for the population was found at 7.5%, with maximum stresses of 63.5Nmm-2 recorded at 91 days. Apart from the 20% replacement, all other replacements realised compressive strengths of above the 25N/mm-2 at 28 days. Compressive strength increased with curing age in line with literature, and at 91 days, all replacement levels showed impressive compressive strengths suitable for structural applications. CCA replaced specimens were darker in color and had a lower density than that of the control. The workability of the CCA replaced mixes increased with increased replacement.For the sulfate elongation tests, findings showed the change in lengths for all CCA samples were less than the control sample thus indicating improved sulphate resistance [15-20].

Conclusion

CCA used for the study did not satisfy the minimum chemical composition requirements for pozzolanic materials of SiO2+Al2O3+F2O3≥70%, but it did satisfy some requirements of both pozzolanic and cementitious materials. Compressive strengths observed throughout all replacements were capable of structural applications. The compressive and sulfate resistance tests also showed good repeatability with previous studies, with strengths capable of structural applications observed over all replacements. These results show that CCA can be used as a partial cement replacement to mitigate on the cost of cement and its impacts on the environment whilst also improving sulphate resistance [21-30].