Title:
Effect of Sugar Cane Bagasse Ash Incorporated as Viscosity Modifying Agent on Fresh, Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Self‑Compacting Concrete
Author(s):
Usman Amjad, Muhammad Sarir, Diyar Khan, Inzimam Ul Haq, Muhammad Wajahat Ali Khawaja and Khalid Mahmood
Publication:
IJCSM
Volume:
19
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
Sugarcane bagasse ash, Mechanical and microstructural properties, Self-compacting concrete
DOI:
10.1186/s40069-024-00718-4
Date:
3/31/2025
Abstract:
The global construction industry faces a crucial challenge reconciling economic growth with environmental sustainability,
notably due to the significant environmental impact of cement production, particularly in countries like Pakistan.
As the demand for cement grows, so does the carbon footprint and environmental degradation, necessitating
the exploration of sustainable alternatives like sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA), a byproduct of sugarcane processing,
to mitigate these issues while also addressing rising costs in concrete production. Embracing SBA offers a promising
avenue to alleviate environmental concerns and enhance the sustainability of the construction sector. This study
investigated the SBA properties and effectiveness as a viscosity modifying agent (VMA) in self-compacting concrete
(SCC), examining varying SBA content effects on fresh and hardened SCC properties. The hydration and microstructure
properties were evaluated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and mercury
intrusion porosimetry (MIP) to investigate SBA-based SCC. The results indicate that SBA has the potential to enhance
mechanical and microstructural properties by possibly increasing the formation of Calcium Silicate Hydrate (CSH) gel.
Adding 5% SBA demonstrated favorable fresh properties while incorporating up to 15% SBA showed improvements
in compressive strength. Overall, adding SBA to cement manufacturing during clinkerization can reduce environmental
pollution and lower production costs.