Researchers explore the potential for using fly ash in concrete

The UK Quality Ash Association is sponsoring research into the recovery and use of stockpile fly ash for construction materials.

The project seeks to build a comprehensive picture of ash availability in the UK and research the potential to use recovered ash as a pozzolana in concrete and cement.

The research is being conducted by the Concrete Technology Unit (CTU) at the University of Dundee.

It is believed that there’s as much as 50 million tonnes of fly ash in storage at coal fired power stations across the UK, but until now there’s been no study into the amount of ash that could be recovered for use in construction.

The study will first seek to establish an accurate estimate of the amount of stockpiled ash in the UK. Samples from across UK ash fields will be collected and tested in laboratories to assess their performance as pozzolanas, a partial cement replacement in concrete. The CTU will then work with the UKQAA to develop a process route to transform stockpiled ash into fly ash which meets the specification of EN 450, the European norm for the use of fly ash in cement and concrete.

According to the UKQAA, the benefits could be huge. Fly ash sourced directly from power stations is already widely used in the construction sector, from bricks and blocks to ready-mixed concrete in major engineering projects. If successful, the research could significantly boost supplies and allow the industry to make greater use of a valuable secondary material – cutting carbon dioxide emissions and reducing the need for primary raw materials in cement and concrete production.

http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/researchers-explore-the-potential-for-using-fly-ash-in-concrete