Hydration of bamboo leaf ash blended Portland cement

Abstract

Bamboo leaf ash (BLA) obtained at 600oC was found to be pozzolanic material. The pozzolanic activity was studied by using chemical methods, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopic techniques. Hydration behaviour of 20 wt% BLA blended ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was studied by using different experimental techniques and it was found that at 28 days of hydration the compressive strength value for 20 wt% BLA blended cement mortar was quite comparable to that of mortar made from OPC. The mechanism of pozzolanic activity has been discussed.