2 - Fly ash glass chemistry and inorganic polymer cements

Abstract

In this chapter, the importance of developing a detailed understanding of coal fly ash as the basis for the analysis of inorganic polymer formation is outlined, and many of the factors controlling ash properties are discussed. The properties of fly ash are seen to depend very significantly on the composition of the coal burned, as well as the combustion conditions. The usual compositional ranges in which fly ashes fall display some very complex chemistry in the Al2O3-SiO2 system, which must be considered in analysis of ash-derived inorganic polymers.