Performance of concrete by using palm oil fuel ash (POFA) as a cement replacement material

Abstract

Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) is one of the solid waste in Malaysia and had trouble in the ash removal. Therefore, the use of waste oil palm ash can overcome the problem of solid waste. Based on previous research, POFA is a pozzolana material and it can act as a replacement of cement (OPC) to produce concrete with higher strength and low cost. POFA quality will increase as the range made up to a medium level of fineness in the size of 50 microns. POFA used to replace OPC is 0%, 10%, 30% and 50% by weight percent of OPC. POFA concrete compressive strength will be tested after a curing process that concrete age of 7 days and 28 days. POFA concrete density is also tested and compared with OPC concrete. Results showed that compressive strength POFA lower than normal concrete. On the other hand, the replacement of cement by 10% POFA shows a record high in compressive strength compared with other POFA mixing at the age of 7 days and 28 days. Fineness pozolana POFA is the best material and can be used as a cement replacement alternative. POFA 10 % and 30 % suggested as enhancing cement replacer to obtain high compressive strength results in experiments.