Fresh and hardened properties of high-performance concrete utilising micro and nano palm oil fuel ash

Abstract

This study assessed the fresh and hardened properties of high-performance blended concrete (HPBC) containing 10% of micro palm oil fuel ash with an enhancement of 1–3% of nano palm oil fuel ash. The effect of micro and nano form of agricultural waste utilised on the fresh and hardened properties of HPBC was obtained from the slump and compressive strength test at 7, 28, 90 and 180 days. One of its durability properties was attained using the sorptivity test and measured at 28, 56 and 90 days of experiment. The utilisation of 10% of micro POFA and 1–3% of nano POFA was used as the supplementary cementitious materials in producing the HPBC. The results showed by the enhancement of 3% of nano POFA indicated that the workability of HPBC improved about 5–10 mm and the highest increment of about 4%, 3.6%, and 3.7% for the compressive strength at 7, 28 and 90 days curing age, respectively. In line with that, the sorptivity of the HPBC containing 1%, 2% and 3% of nano POFA was reduced by 7%, 9%, and 13% at 28 days; 8%, 19%, and 32% at 56 days; and 8%, 15%, and 15% at 90 days; respectively, than that of the control concrete. The utilisation of the micro and nano POFA in the high-performance concrete showed significant improvement in the workability and compressive strength at the early and later ages, as well as a reduction in initial absorption and sorptivity. © 2019, Construction Research Institute of Malaysia. All rights reserved.