Properties comparison between ordinary portland cement (OPC) and palm oil fuel ash (POFA) concrete reinforcement

Abstract

The increase in the production of palm oil had caused existence of problem in oil palm dust disposal in Malaysia that is world's largest exporter. Realizing effect of this problem, various solutions raised to overcome this matter and among them is by reuse waste material (POFA) for use in construction field. Several studies were being conducted on palm oil fuel ash and this waste seen potentially to be applied to replace Portland cement. In this study, oil palm (POFA) waste production effectiveness named oil palm dust studied to know replacement percentage that is most optimal and strength that is achievable by a concrete sample which contain POFA mixture. Reinforced concrete used in POFA sample testing to know effect of the material used in real structure building. Several tests were made on POFA sample namely slump test on wet concrete, compression test, flexural test that were carried out on beam sample, water absorption test, and pull out test. From all tests that have done, concrete sample which contains POFA have lower strength compared to plain concrete (OPC). On the other hand, cement replacement by 10% POFA shows highest record strength that is achievable compared to POFA mixture 30% and 50% in 28 day age. POFA nature that more absorb water compared to cement cause chemical reaction affected and influence concrete strength.