The Evaluation of High Calcium Green Polymeric Concrete

Abstract

ncreasing environmental concerns of the cement industry brings about the requirement to the development of new binders. Polymeric concrete containing no cement provides great potential in reducing the global warming problems caused by CO2emissions in Portland cement production. On the other hand, large amount of waste paper sludge ash produced annually in Malaysia has caused a disposal problem as they require a proper dumping process whereby it is very costly. The study focuses on the utilization of this high calcium Waste paper sludge ash (WPSA) in polymeric concrete containing recycled concrete aggregate (RCA). WPSA is chemically activated by a high-alkaline solution to form paste that binds aggregate in the mixture. Sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate solution are used as alkali activators of silica (Si) and aluminium (Al) in main binders. The polymeric concrete samples were exposed to external ambient condition and tested for compressive strength and shrinkage at 3, 7, 28, 56, and 90 days to identify the strength and deformation of the polymeric concrete. X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis performed to ascertain the chemical properties of the produced WPSA. The result of polymeric concrete yielded very minimum shrinkage. The measurement compressive strength is up to 7MPa at 90 days. Hence, this new green material will bring benefits to the environment and is of economical value.