Examination of cement concrete containing micro silica and sugarcane bagasse ash subjected to sulphate and chloride attack

Abstract

India is the largest producer of sugar in the world and thereby produces tremendous amount of bagasse. Sugar industries utilize the bagasse to recover energy and the waste byproduct commonly termed as sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) is discarded in landfills that impacts the environment at large. The SBA primarily contains calcium oxides, silica and aluminium ion that has the potential for developing sustainable building material. This study aims to find the effect of the industrial byproducts, micro silica (MS) and SBA on the durability and strength properties of M40 grade of concrete. In this study, the cement was partially substituted with varying percentages of SBA while MS was replaced by 10% of weight of cement. The durability of the blended concrete against sulphate and chloride attack was assessed by immersing the cured concrete cubes in 5% diluted (v/v) acids (sulfuric and hydrochloric). The loss in weight of the concrete cubes and compressive strength was examined at the end of 56 days and 90 days distinctly in both the acids. The blended concrete gives optimal resistance to sulphate and chloride attack when cement is replaced in the concrete with 10% SBA and 10% MS by weight.