Utilisation of Eggshell Powder (ESP) as Partial Replacement of Cement Incorporating Superplasticizer

Abstract

This research showed the results of experiments evaluating the use of eggshell powder from egg production industry as partial replacement for ordinary Portland cement. Research on the reuse of waste materials in the concrete industry has been quite intensive in the past decade. The objective of this research is to identify the performance of dried eggshell powder as a partial cement replacement in the production of concrete. Eggshell powder of various amounts, namely 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% by volume, was added as a replacement for ordinary Portland cement. The results showed that eggshell concrete greatly improved the compressive and flexural strength of concrete. The rate of water absorption of eggshell concrete was reduced as eggshell powder filled up the existing voids, making it more impermeable. However, the compressive strength of the eggshell concrete decreases gradually when the amount of eggshell powder increased. It can be concluded that the optimum percentage of dried eggshell powder as a partial cement replacement is 15%. In this direction, an experimental investigation of ultrasonic pulse velocity, rebound hammer concrete test, compressive strength, flexural strength and FTIR spectra and TGA analysis was undertaken to use eggshell powder and admixtures as partial replacement for cement in concrete.