A PASSION FOR ASH?

This article reports on the increasing British use of pulverised-fuel ash as a cementitious component of concrete. During the last year, PFA (pulverised-fuel ash processed to comply with British Standard BS 3892 Part 1) has enjoyed a considerable boom in the UK. PFA was used as a cementitious ingredient in several important civil engineering projects. Several decades ago, PFA's quality could not be guaranteed, but, today, PFA is known to be a consistent, quality-assured processed material. This is because British PFA manufacturers, who belong to the Quality Ash Association, have all invested in the latest technologies to guarantee its consistency. There is also much more recognition today of the benefits of PFA: (1) greater sulphate resistance; (2) reduced water demand; and (3) better pumpability. Some popular misconceptions about it are slowly being corrected. PFA concrete strength performance is enhanced in a high temperature environment. Every delivery of PFA is subject to a strict sampling regime. The new Concrete Society recommendations on alkali-silica reaction (ASR) seem likely to recommend that PFA's alkali content should usually be ignored when calculating total reactive alkalis in concrete. A Portland/PFA cement blend was used for the concrete in a recent award-winning concrete oil storage structure.

  • Availability:
  • Corporate Authors:

    THE CONCRETE SOCIETY

    112 WINDSOR ROAD
    SLOUGH, BERKSHIRE  United Kingdom  SL1 2JA
  • Authors:
    • Owens, P
  • Publication Date: 1996

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Pagination: p. 12,14
  • Serial:
    • CONCRETE
    • Volume: 30
    • Issue Number: 1
    • Publisher: THE CONCRETE SOCIETY
    • ISSN: 0010-5317

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00723177
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
  • Files: ITRD
  • Created Date: Jul 26 1996 12:00AM