Strength, Water Absorption and Carbonation Depth of Micro Fine Quarry Dust Concrete Grade 60

Abstract

An alternative material (pozzolanic) needs to be looked into, in order to reduce the usage of cement in the concrete, since the demand for cement is quite high in developing countries owing to rapid infrastructural development. Pozzolanic material, also known as a cement replacement material, has been introduced as substitutes for cement in concrete. Several types of materials are in common use, some of which are by products from other industrial processes and hence their use may have economic advantages. Micro fine quarry dust (MFQD) is a by product from the quarry in a form of white material that is introduced to replace cement. The introduction of quarry dust (QD) seems acceptable since the study on the chemical composition shows that the QD can be classified under category mineral admixture Class N (pozzolan). This paper deals with the utilization of MFQD as a partial replacement of cement in the concrete. The aim of this study is to determine the compressive strength, water absorption and carbonation depth of hardened concrete Grade 60 at replacement level of 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 % taken at 7, 28, 60, 90, 180 and 365 days of age. The results lead to the conclusion in which MFQD is suitable to be used as a partial cement replacement with the percentage replacement of cement up to 15-20 %, while the carbonation depth increased as the percentage replacement level increased, in which at 28 days, the carbonation depth increased from 1.25 to 2.44 mm. The results show that the decision reached in enhancing the suitability of MFQD as a partial cement replacement thus will reduce not only demand for cement but also the environmental problem.