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INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

In times of financial crisis, most of the people have a tight grip on their money

and therefore need to find ways that can help them save money, but at the same time not

compromise the objects or things that they needed. For instance, buildings today have cement

mix that are very costly and not only that, the things that needs to be incorporated in it as well.

We the researchers thought of an experiment that would lessen the value they would spend in

making hollow blocks, but also make sure that it is durable enough to be used in construction.

The problems that the researchers came up with are the factors that make hollow blocks stronger.

We chose this because it will be cheaper and it would be possible that the non-commercial

hollow blocks that we will make are stronger. Lastly, the materials are can be found in nature.

Not only we will be creating a better alternative for hollow blocks but we can also help save

mother earth.

. RHA is a good super-pozzolans. Silpozz can be used in a big way to make special concrete

mixes . There is a growing demand for fine amorphous silica in the production of special cement

and concrete mixes ,high performance concrete ,high strength, low permeability concrete, for use

in bridges, marine environments , nuclear power plants etc. This market is currently filled by

silica fume or micro silica , being imported from Norway, China and also from Burma . Due to

limited supply of silica fumes in India and the demand being high the price of silica fume has
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risen to as much as US$ 500 / ton in India,( http://www.ricehuskash.com/details.htm October 17,

2016)

The main focus of this study is to discuss the durability of hollow blocks using the

rice husk ash as its component.

Statement of the hypothesis

1. There are no significant differences in the hollow blocks in terms of compressive

strength,and cost in varying composition and proportions of rice husk ash, cement, and

aggregate materials.

General objectives

Generally, this study aims to produce hollow blocks out of rice husk ash in varying proportions.

Specific objectives

Specifically, this study sought to answer the question:

1. Are there significant differences in the hollow blocks in terms of compressive strength,

cost in varying composition and proportions of rice husk ash?

Significance of the study

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The result of this study will be beneficial to the economy of our country,

especially to the construction industry involved in the hollow blocks production; this can

also be one of the solutions of climate change and to the people who cannot afford to

repair their houses using concrete materials. Besides, in the essence of being practical,

low income consumers can get a product of high quality aside from the materials that are

sold in the market, but in lesser cost. The money they will spend buying expensive

hollow blocks can be saved or buy other things that is necessary.

Conceptual Framework

Independent Variable Dependent Variable

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*Rice (Oryza Sativa) husk ash *Sand

*Cement *Gravel

*Compressive Strength

Definition of terms

Silpozz

Silpozz (super-pozzolans) has the potential to be used as a substitute silica fumes or

micro silica as a much lower cost , without compromising on the quality aspect .
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Adding Silpozz to the concrete mix even in low replacement will dramatically enhance the work

ability , strength and impermeability of concrete mixes , while making the concrete durable to

chemical attacks , abrasion and reinforcement corrosion , increasing the compressive strength by

10% - 20 % . has excellent water resistance ( impermeability ) properties and is used in

waterproofing compounds to give amazing results. It reduces the water penetration by as much

as 60 % . Adding Silpozz to concrete and paints helps to reduce the chloride ion penetration by

as much as 50 % into the structure , thus improving life of the building. Adding Silpozz to

concrete lowers the heat of hydration by as much as 30 % and prevents formation of cracks

during casting .(Lopez, 2015)

Aggregate Materials

Aggregate, in building and construction, material used for mixing with cement, bitumen,

lime, gypsum, or other adhesive to form concrete or mortar. The aggregate gives volume,

stability, resistance to wear or erosion, and other desired physical properties to the finished

product. Commonly used aggregates include sand, crushed or broken stone, gravel (pebbles),

broken blast-furnace slag, boiler ashes (clinkers), burned shale, and burned clay. Fine aggregate

usually consists of sand, crushed stone, or crushed slag screenings; coarse aggregate consists of

gravel (pebbles), fragments of broken stone, slag, and other coarse substances. Fine aggregate is

used in making thin concrete slabs or other structural members and where a smooth surface is

desired; coarse aggregate is used for more massive members. (Woods 2013)

Rice husk ash

Rice husk ash (RHA) is a by-product from the burning of rice husk. Rice husk is

extremely prevalent in East and South-East Asia because of the rice production in this area. The
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rich land and tropical climate make for perfect conditions to cultivate rice and is taken advantage

by these Asian countries. The husk of the rice is removed in the farming process before it is sold

and consumed. It has been found beneficial to burn this rice husk in kilns to make various things.

The rice husk ash is then used as a substitute or admixture in cement. Therefore the entire rice

product is used in an efficient and environmentally friendly approach.( Zemke , 2014)

Cement

Cement is a fine mineral powder manufactured with very precise processes. Mixed with

water, this powder transforms into a paste that binds and hardens when submerged in water.

Because the composition and fineness of the powder may vary, cement has different properties

depending upon its makeup.(Flores, 2010)

Chapter II

This chapter presents related foreign and local literature relevant to the study. Relevance is

presented by related literatures to give more in depth understanding.

FOREIGN LITERATURE

Review of Related Literature

Cement:

Cement is one of the most useful materials in modern building construction. By itself it is

soft powder. But when it is mixed with water and allowed to harden, cement can bind sand and

gravel into hard solid mass

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Cement is used chiefly as an ingredient of mortar and concrete. Mortar is a mixture of lime,

cement, sand, water and gravel or broken stone.

The word “cement” apparently was first used as a mixture of broken stones, tiles, etc. with

some building materials, and later it was used as a material capable of adhering to and uniting

into cohesive mass, proportions of substances not in themselves adhesive. (New Book of

Knowledge, 2013)

Rice husk ash:

Rice husk ash is a carbon neutral green product. Lots of ways are being thought of for

disposing them by making commercial use of this RHA. RHA is a good super-pozzolan. This

super-pozzolan can be used in a big way to make special concrete mixes.

Rice milling industry generates a lot of rice husk during milling of paddy which comes from the

fields. This rice husk is mostly used as a fuel in the boilers for processing of paddy. Rice husk is

also used as a fuel for power generation. Rice husk ash (RHA) is about 25% by weight of rice

husk when burnt in boilers.  It is estimated that about 70 million tones of RHA is produced

annually worldwide. This RHA is a great environment threat causing damage to the land and the

surrounding area in which it is dumped. 

( http://www.ricehuskash.com/details.htm, October 17, 2016)

During milling of paddy about 78 % of weight is received as rice , broken rice and

bran .Rest 22 % of the weight of paddy is received as husk . This husk is used as fuel in the rice

mills to generate steam for the parboiling process . This husk contains about 75 % organic
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volatile matter and the balance 25 % of the weight of this husk is converted into ash during the

firing process , is known as rice husk ash ( RHA ). This RHA in turn contains around 85 % - 90

% amorphous silica. 

 So for every 1000 kgs of paddy milled , about 220 kgs ( 22 % ) of husk is produced , and when

this husk is burnt in the boilers ,about 55 kgs ( 25 % ) of RHA is generated. 

RHA is a good super-pozzolans . Silpozz can be used in a big way to make special

concrete mixes . There is a growing demand for fine amorphous silica in the production of

special cement and concrete mixes ,high performance concrete ,high strength, low permeability

concrete, for use in bridges, marine environments , nuclear power plants etc.

Hollow blocks

A Hollow block is primarily used as a building material in the construction of walls. It is

sometimes called a concrete masonry unit (CMU). A concrete block is one of several precast

concrete products used in construction. The term precast refers to the fact that the blocks are

formed and hardened before they are brought to the job site. Most concrete blocks have one or

more hollow cavities, and their sides may be cast smooth or with a design. In use, concrete

blocks are stacked one at a time and held together with fresh concrete mortar to form the desired

length and height of the wall.

Local Literature

Rice husk:

The rice husk (or hull) is the outermost layer of the paddy grain that is separated from the

rice grains during the milling process. Around 20% of paddy weight is husk and rice production
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in Asia produces about 770 million tons of husk annually.Rice husk was largely considered a

waste product that was often burned or dumped on landfills.(Gummert,2011)

Rice Husk Ash (RHA) as a cement replacement in testing the compressive strength of

hollow blocks.A researcher at the Saint Louis College here, said rice husk ash could be used as

“admixture” in cement paste and concrete because it contains silica, a compound that serves as

cement “binder.He said 10 percent of commercial cement could be replaced with rice husk

ash.“Replacing 10 percent of cement with rice husk ash does not mean sacrificing the strength of

concrete,” he said. said the main parameter in the design of concrete structure is compressive

strength of the concrete.

The researcher study, entitled “Influence of Rice Husk Ash as Supplementary Material in

Cement Paste and Concrete,” was one of the finalists in the second Ilocos Consortium for

Industry and Energy Research and Development (ICIERD) R&D competition. Also, it can be

used as additive to reduce corrosion and increase durability of concrete structures. These were

found in studies done by researchers of Angeles University Foundation-College of Engineering

(AUF-CE) in Angeles City (Pampanga). The technology is now being transferred initially in

Central Luzon owing to its being the rice granary of the country. Spearheading the technology

transfer campaign are AUF (as the implementing agency) and the Department of Science and

Technology-Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development (DOST-

PCIERD, as funding agency). Under the agreement, the rice husk will be supplied by the V. del

Rosario Ricemill in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija. Central Luzon’s annual rice husk

production during the 1990-99 period exceeded 350,000 metric tons, according to statistics

compiled by the Biomass Atlas of the Philippines."Because rice husk is considered a waste by-

product in the scope of milling operations in the Philippines, this innovation is projected to boost
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the efficiency of agricultural practices not only in Region 3 but also throughout the country,"

DOST stated.DOST explained that when rice husk is burned, 17 to 25 percent of its weight is

retained in ash form.The rice husk ash (RHA) can be used as a pozzolana to replace ordinary

portland cement up to 50 percent. Milled contained in RHA reacts with lime in the presence of

water to form calcium silicate hydrates that function as binder in RHA cement.Dr. Lilia

Austriaco, AUF project leader, said the undertaking is envisioned to provide socioeconomic

benefits to technology adopters and environmental impact in the region. Target beneficiaries are

small-scale contractors, builders, and rice mill owners in Central Luzon.

PCIERD, headed by executive director Graciano Tumul Jr., also averred that the utilization of

rice husk is particularly attractive in the country because it impacts on the environment and

capital costs of the structure.

Initial studies on the use of RHA-lime/RHA-portland cement for non-load bearing blocks for

low-income family housing was initially done in 1991 by the University of the Philippines

Building Research Services, in partnership with DOST.

Chapter III

Materials and Methods

The following materials, tools, equipment and chemicals were utilized in the making of

the study: Cement, Rice husk ash, shovel, aggregate materials, and hollow block machine.

Procedure

Preparing of the rice husk ash

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Figure 1.

The rice husk ash were collected at Tico, Panay, Capiz. Approximately 5kg of rice husk

ash were collected.

Mixing of the rice husk ash, cement, and aggregate materials

Figure 2

After collecting the rice husk ash, it was mix together with cement, aggregate materials,

and water using a shovel.

Molding of the hollow blocks

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Figure 3

The mixture was mold using the hollow block machine.

Drying of the hollow block

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Figure 5

After the mixture was mold it, it was placed under the sun until it was set.

Statistical tool

The compressive strength of hollow

blocks were described and analyzed

using mean.