Fly Ash Utilisation for CO₂ Reduction in Cement Composites

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Civil Engineering
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Portland cement production is CO2 intensive.
• Industrial by-products like fly ash offer potential as supplementary cementitious materials.
• Sustainable construction demands alternatives to traditional cement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate fly ash as a sustainable substitute for Portland cement in cement composites.
• To assess the impact of fly ash incorporation on mechanical performance and material properties.
• To align cement composite production with circular economy principles.

Main Methods:

• Partial replacement of Portland cement with fly ash (25% and 50% reductions).
• Mechanical testing (compressive strength).
• Material characterization using XRD, FTIR, TGA, and nitrogen adsorption (BET, BJH).

Main Results:

• Compressive strength reached 41 MPa, suitable for construction.
• Fly ash incorporation led to new crystalline phases and altered porosity.
• Increased surface area and mesoporosity observed with reduced cement content.
• FTIR confirmed effective activation of fly ash via Si-O-Si and Al-O-Si bond formation.

Conclusions:

• Fly ash is a viable sustainable substitute for Portland cement.
• Utilizing fly ash supports CO2 emission reduction and resource conservation.
• This approach promotes durable, environmentally responsible cement composites within a circular economy framework.