Fly Ash

Fly ash or pulverized fuel ash (PFA) is the residue from the combustion of pulverized coal collected by mechanical or electrostatic separators from the flue gases or power plants. It constitutes about 75 per cent of the total ash produced. The properties and composition of fly ash vary widely, not only between different plants but from hour to hour in the same plant.

Its composition depends on type of fuel burnt and on the variation of load on the boiler. Fly ash obtained from cyclone separators is comparatively coarse and contains a large proportion of unburnt fuel, whereas that obtained from electrostatic precipitators is relatively fine having a specific surface of about 3500 cm²/g and may be as high as 5000 cm²/g. Normally it is rather finer than Portland cement.

Fly ash consists generally of spherical particles, some of which may be like glass and hollow and of irregularly shaped particles of unburnt fuel or carbon. It may vary in colour from light grey to dark grey or even brown.

Fly ash is supplied in two grades; grade I and grade II. There general use is incorporating it in cement mortar and concrete and in lime pozzolana mixture. However, only grade I is recommended for manufacture of Portland pozzolana cement.

Effects of Fly Ash on Concrete

1. On Amount of Mixing Water

The use of fly ash in limited amounts as a replacement for cement or as an addition to cement requires a little more water for the same slump because of fineness of the fly ash. It is generally agreed that the use of fly ash, particularly as an admixture rather than as a replacement of cement, reduces, segregation and bleeding. If the sand is coarse the addition of fly ash produces beneficial results; for fine sands, its addition may increase the water requirement for a given workability.

2. On Strength in Compression

Since the pozzolanic action is very slow, an addition of fly ash up to 30 per cent may result in lower strength at 7 and 28 days, but may be about equal at 3 months and may further increase at ages greater than 3 months provided curing is continued.

3. On Modulus of Elasticity

It is lower at early ages and higher at later ages.

4. On Curing Condition

It is similar to Portland cement concrete.

5. On Shrinkage of Concrete

Coarser fly ashes and those having high carbon content are more liable to increase drying shrinkage than the finer fly ashes and those having low carbon content.

6. On Permeability

The permeability of concrete reduces on addition of fly ash to cement. 28 days pulverised fly-ash-concrete may be three times as permeable as ordinary concrete but after 6 months it may be less than one quarter permeable.

7. On Resistance to Chemical Attack

Fly ash slightly improves the resistance of concrete to sulphate attack.

8. On Heat of Hydration

Fly ash reduces the heat of hydration in concrete. A substitution of 30 per cent fly ash may result in a reduction of 50-60% heat of hydration.

9. On Air Entrainment

The presence of fly ash reduces the amount of air entraining agent.

10. On Setting Time

A 30 per cent substitution of fly ash may result in an increase of initial setting time up to 2 hours.