Abstract
This study investigated the effect of substituting cement with incense ash on material properties and hydration of cement-based composite materials. Test specimens with incense ash replacing up to 30% (volume) of cement were produced and cured at 25 °C and 75 °C for up to 120 days. The researchers of this study observed the effect on setting time, heat conduction, compressive strength, and water absorption, and conducted a microanalysis to observe the structural change of hydration products. The results indicated that by substituting cement with incense ash, the hydration reaction was hastened, and the setting time shortened. When 5% of cement was replaced, incense ash had the effect of filling the voids between particles. At a higher curing temperature, the frequency of particle collisions increased, expediting the hydration reaction and improving the strength of the specimens. At a longer curing time, voids in the specimens were gradually filled by colloids, and pozzolanic reaction caused the amount of Ca(OH)2 to diminish and C–S–H gel to increase, which in turn improved the structural cohesion, reduced the water absorption, and increased the strength and thermal conductivity of the specimens.
Highlights
IntroductionIn Taiwan, incense is among the most common sacrificial offerings in religious activities, as burning incense signifies acquiring the blessing of spirits
The results of physical property tests revealed that the incense ash had a fineness of 688 m2 /kg and had a greater specific surface area than cement, making it bind with water more
Because incense ash has a smaller grain diameter and higher surface energy than cement, a rapid increase in surface area causes the number of surface atoms to increase rapidly, hastening and intensifying the hydration reaction [36]
Summary
In Taiwan, incense is among the most common sacrificial offerings in religious activities, as burning incense signifies acquiring the blessing of spirits. The prevalence of religious activities results in at least 4190 tons of incense being burned annually in temples across Taiwan [1]. Incense is primarily comprised of powdered plant materials [2]. The ash of burned incense is typically treated as waste and deposited in landfills. If it can be recycled as an alternative building material, its environmental impact will be substantially reduced. Berraa et al [3] identified two peaks in the X-ray diffraction (XRD)
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