Central Europe towards Sustainable Building 2013

Low-tech and high-tech materials and technologies for sustainable buildings

VOLCANIC ASH, METAKAOLIN AND ORDINARY

PORTLAND CEMENT BLENDS IN CONCRETE
PRODUCTION

Edmund John KAMANG

Department of Building, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria,
kamang4gold@yahoo.com

Ijego Mildred OYEMOGUM

Department of Building, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria, egooye@yahoo.co.uk

Frank W. NDANUSA
Department of Building, Faculty of Environmental Sciences,University of Jos, Nigeria,
frankwills1984@yahoo.com

Summary
This research looks at the possibility of volcanic ash and metakaolin as partial replacement
of cement in concrete production. The physical properties and chemical composition of
volcanic ash, metakaolin and cement were analysed. Volcanic ash was found to have
a specific gravity of 3.28 and Metakaolin has a specific gravity of 2.30 the chemical
compositons meet the ASTMC-618 requirements for pozzolana. Concrete cubes were
produced using 0%MK-30%VA, 10%MK-30%VA, 20%MK-30%VA and 30%MK-30%VA
as partial replacement for cement. The density and compressive strength properties were
assessed. The results reveal that the compressive strength of the concrete cubes decreases
with increasing percentage replacement, while it increases with curing period. However,
10%MK and 10%VA showed exceptional increase that superceded the strength obtained
for 0%MK and 0%VA (control) sample. The research therefore recommends that metakaolin
and volcanic ash can be blended in amounts upto 30 % each with cement in concrete.

Keywords: Volcanic ash, Metakaolin, Cement

1 Introduction
The costs of building materials are high, due to high energy production requirement; high
transportation cost; and artificial price fixing influence by non-technical factors. Adepegba
(1990) stresses that the construction industry relies heavily on cement for its operations in
the development of shelter and other infrastructural facilities. As a result of this high cost,
most people have taken to cutting corners on the minimum quantity of cement meant for
building infrastructural facilities. This need for cheaper options of high cost building
materials is readily seen in developing countries.

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Low-tech and high-tech materials and technologies for sustainable buildings

2 Discussion
Tab. 1 Specific Gravity of Volcanic ash, Metakaolin and Cement
Materials Specific Gravity
Volcanic Ash 3.28
Metakaolin 2.30
Cement 3.15

The specific values of 3.28 and 2.30 was obtained for volcanic ash and metakaolin
respectively and complied with the requirements of BS 812 section 103: 1 1985.

Tab. 2 Soundness Test for volcanic ash (VA), metakaolin (MK) and cement
MK (%) VA (%) Wet Gaps D1 (mm) Hot Gaps, D2 (mm) Differences (mm)
0 10.0 19.0 9.0
10 11.0 21.0 10.0
0 20 8.0 19.0 11.0
30 8.0 20.0 12.0
0 20.0 28.0 8.0
10 21.0 29.0 8.0
10 20 22.0 25.0 3.0
30 15.0 21.0 6.0
0 16.0 23.0 8.0
10 18.0 22.0 4.0
20 20 10.0 13.0 3.0
30 20.0 26.0 6.0
0 18.0 27.0 9.0
10 19.0 26.0 7.0
30 20 21.0 26.0 7.0
30 22.0 28.0 7.0

From the table above, all the results for soundness test meet the stipulations of BS812 after
obtaining the difference between the two measurement D2 and D1 They were not more than
10 mm except for 0% MK/20% VA and 0% MK/30% VA which measured 11.0 mm and
12 mm differences. From BS812, the difference should not be more than 10 mm for
normal (or sound) cement. Similarly, the soundness of the paste increased as the proportion
of the blends (volcanic ash and metakaolin) increased

Tab. 3 Bulk Density of Volcanic Ash and Metakaolin

Materials Un-compacted Bulk Density Compacted Bulk Density
Volcanic Ash 1394.00 1649.00
Metakaolin 890.00 1055.00

Volcanic ash had a bulk density of 1649kg/m3 compacted and 1394 kg/m3 uncompacted,
with a ratio of 0.87 which makes it a non-light weight material as specified by Neville
(1981). The uncompacted bulk density of the Metakaolin was found to be 890 kg/m3 while
its compacted bulk density was 1005 kg/m3 with a ratio of 0.89 as shown in table 3.

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Low-tech and high-tech materials and technologies for sustainable buildings

Tab. 4 Consistency, Initial and final setting time of volcanic ash and Metakaolin
MK (%) VA (%) Water content (%) Initial setting time Final setting time
0 33 1hr 35mins 3hrs 35mins
10 33 1hr 45mins 2hrs 20mins
0 20 32 1hr 55mins 3hrs 05mins
30 32 2hrs 05mins 3hrs 25mins
0 34 1hr 58mins 4hrs 24mins
10 34 1hr 47mins 4hrs 05mins
10 20 33 1hr 48mins 4hrs 10mins
30 33 1hr 50mins 4hrs 15mins
0 36 2hrs 20mins 4hrs 39mins
10 34 1hr 49mins 4hrs 25mins
20 20 34 2hrs 06mins 5hrs 00mins
30 32 2hrs 17mins 5hrs 20mins
0 40 2hrs 36mins 4hrs 55mins
10 38 2hrs 49mins 5hrs 10mins
30 20 41 2hrs 53mins 5hrs 15mins
30 43 2hrs 58mins 5hrs 22mins

The normal consistency of the paste increased as the proportion of the blends increased.
The general consistency ranged from 33 to 43 % which means that additon of the blends
(Volcanic Ash and Metakaolin) led to increase in the amount of water required to obtain
a desired consistency. It therefore implies that mixing of the blends (metakaolin and volcanic
ash) decreases consistency minimally. Neville (1982), and Coleman and Page (1997)
specifies the range for normal cement consistency to be from 26 to 33 %.

Tab. 5 Summary of Compressive Strength (CS-N/mm2 )

MK (%) VA (%) Curing Day 3 Curing Day 7 Curing Day 28 Curing Day 90
0 7.44 10.20 25.06 34.22
10 7.12 8.25 21.15 29.14
0 20 6.98 7.45 19.80 24.02
30 6.12 6.55 17.70 20.19
0 10.01 13.38 24.44 33.62
10 12.91 18.65 25.70 34.46
10 20 11.44 15.11 23.96 29.04
30 9.37 11.34 18.00 22.67
0 9.11 12.47 22.24 30.94
10 9.04 9.78 20.16 29.67
20 20 7.74 8.44 18.47 29.33
30 7.15 7.11 16.44 21.33
0 7.18 8.35 19.32 25.12
10 6.14 8.19 18.14 20.44
30 20 6.32 7.12 14.22 17.78
30 6.13 6.92 12.47 15.56

Results of the compressive strength development with hydration periods of 3, 7, and 28

days at varying percentage replacement of volcanic ash, metakaolin and cement are
presented. It can be observed that the the compressive strength decreases as the percentage
replacement increases except for 10%MK/10%VA with OPC which showed exceptional
increase. Table 5 shows that for the 0%MK/0%VA (i.e the control) sample, the 28-day

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CESB13 Prague
Low-tech and high-tech materials and technologies for sustainable buildings

strength gave 25.06 N/mm2 while the 0%MK/30%VA sample had 28-day strength of
17.70 N/mm2, representing a decrease of about 29 %. For 10%MK/10%VA sample, the
28-day strength of 25.70 N/mm2 was obtained which is slightly above the target strength of
25.06 N/mm2 for the control.

3 Conclusion/Recommendation
The results obtained show that the blends of Metakaolin and Volcanic ash possess good
pozzolanic characteristics and are suitable for partial replacements of Ordinary Portland
Cement in concrete mixtures. In conclusion metakaolin and volcanic ash can be used in
partial replacement of ordinary portland cement upto 20 % in general concrete construction
and when high strengths at early ages are not required. Emphasis is laid on the need for
African Governments to persuade the existing Portland Cement factories and Building
research institute in Africa to undertake pozzolana production as a new line. Therefore, the
establishment of blending plants for the production of portland pozzolana cements is
recommended in view of the economic, engineering and environmental benefits. Nigeria in
particular should adopt pozzolanas because they set slowly and, therefore, develop very
low heat of hydration. This makes them very useful for non-structural construction in hot
countries. Also, Pozzolanas are more suitable for use in hot countries than in cold because
higher pozzolanic activity can be developed in hot temperatures than in cold temperatures
by the same materials.

References
[1] Adepegba, D. (1990). Nigeria: Pozzolana – the cheap alternative to Portland cement.
The paper presented at the Seminar on Local Materials for Housing, Third
International Seminar of the African Network of Scientific and Technological
Institutions (ANSTI), Civil Engineering Subnetwork, held at the University of
Mauritius, Reduit, and March 1990. ANSTI is a UNESCO sponsored Network.
[2] ASTM C618 (1993). Specification for fly Ash and Raw or Calcined Natural
Pozzolana for Use as Mineral Admixture in Portland Cement Concrete. ASTM, 1916
Race street, Philadelphia, Pa 19103, USA.
[3] BS 812: Parts 121 (1989). Method for Determination of Soundness. 389 Cheswick
High Road, London, British Standards Institute.
[4] BS 1881: Parts 102 and 103 (1983). Methods for Determination of Slump, Methods
for determining Compacting Factor. 389 Cheswick High Road, London, British
Standard Institute.
[5] BS 1881: Part 114 and 116 (1983). Method for Determination of Density of Hardened
Concrete, Method for Determining Compressive Strenght of Concrete Cubes. 389
Cheswick High Road, London, British Standard Institute.