Waste fly ash makes cement concrete stronger

Waste fly ash makes cement concrete stronger

The use of cement might add strength to a concrete mix and eventually to the structure.

But recent studies by an Indian Institute of Technology have found that adding a small quantity of wastes disposed in thermal power plants or a steel factory to the concrete mixture can help the structure last a lifetime.

The study says that use of mineral admixtures like fly ash generated as waste from thermal power plants and ground granulated blast furnace slag from the steel industry can increase the durability and useful life of reinforced concrete structures tremendously.

Thermal power plants in the country generate nearly 200 million tonnes of fly ash a year, but less than 30 million tonnes are utilized.

The study recommends that cement used for construction be partially replaced with at least 15%fly ash or 30% slag along with the use of low water content.

The lower water content can increase resistance against carbonation, which occurs due to vehicle and industrial emissions, and enhances the strength and stiffness of the structure.

So if you wish to construct your building much stronger then try to find fly ash and mix it in the concrete mixture used to construct your building.