EFFECT OF INCINERATED SUGARCANE BAGASSE IN REDUCING HEAT OF HYDRATION IN CONCRETE

Abstract

Incinerated sugarcane bagasse (ISB) is an agro-based industrial waste material which is rich in silica. It has been observed that it has the potential to reduce the heat that will be generated from hydration reaction. Lower rate of heat release and lesser magnitude of heat production during the hydration reaction of cement are desirable properties in mass concreting and production of concrete in hot weather condition. In this study, the heat evolution and tensile strength development of concrete with and without the inclusion of ISB was examined. A systematic volume-based replacement of cement by ISB was made with ISB amount of 10%, 20% and 30%. The hydration kinetics of cement paste with various percentages of ISB was checked using differential calorimeter. In addition, a concrete made with ISB was prepared and the temperature evolution history was traced in an environmentally controlled chamber. The heat generated from a set of concrete samples were studied under a surrounding temperature of 250 C and 500 C. Results obtained from both the differential calorimeter of cement paste and the concrete in the controlled chamber indicate, with the increase of the ISB replacement, the rate of heat release and the amount of heat generation within the mix decreases. In conjunction, with the increase of ISB up to 20% the early-age tensile strength of concrete increases. These two important attributes of adding ISB to concrete signify reduction in the risk of early age cracking in concrete.