Investigation on Blending CFB Ash with Blast Furnace Slag as Replacement for Portland Cement Used in Concrete Binders

Abstract

Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) Boiler is a means of energy-generating process by burning petroleum coke. In order to avoid blazed petroleum coke with high sulfur content from emitting overdosed sulfur dioxide, limestone is introduced in the boiler for desulfuration. The residue collected from the boiler is called CFB ash. In accordance with different boiler position, CFB ashes can be classified as fly ash and bed ash, and both have similar chemical compositions, with high contents of gypsum and calcium oxide. In this study, CFB ash (fly ash) is mixed with blast furnace slag (BFS) as a substitute for cement in making concrete. It is intended that CFB ashes can be used in concrete and a method for proportioning CFB ash in concrete can be developed. The results show that CFB ash can react with cement to produce hydration products such as Ca(OH)2, and bring the activation of blast furnace slag. The paste strength could be low at later ages, if the CFB ash content is too low. Whereas, if the CFB ash content is over 30%, the paste strength will be low at the early age. Therefore, it is concluded that the cement-granulated blast furnace slag system will show best performance at the CFB ash content between 18% and 22%. In autoclave soundness test shows the CFB ash of the high f-CaO content is easy reaction in the water, and also did not negatively affect the quality of the volume stability.