Abstract:
In recent times construction industries have embarked on the use of environmental waste materials as an admixture to concrete to enhance performance and reduce the cost of production. This study investigated the use of bamboo culm charcoal as an admixture in the production of concrete to improve performances in terms of strength. Bamboo culm was processed into charcoal and analyzed using Energy Dispersive x-ray Spectroscopy (EDS); Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR). Freshly mixed concrete cubes were produced with coarse and fine aggregates, Ordinary Poland Cement, and Bamboo Charcoal using BS 12 (1996). Water and cement ratio was done at 0.70% for control (conventional) and modify by adding 3-4% bamboo charcoal dosage for production of freshly concrete cubes. The EDS, FTIR, and SEM test revealed a strong bond of C=C, silicon chlorine, zinc titanium, potassium, etc., and a micro-porous structure with irregular shapes. 3% admixture concrete cubes had the same average compressive strength as conventional concrete at 7 and 14days with a 2.25% increase as compared to 47% increment. While at 28days loss of strength of about 20% were recorded. Similarly, 4% admixture had a maximum increasing strength of 10.98 -11.78 N/mm2 with 4.67 N/mm2 massive loss in strength at 28days as compared with conventional concrete. Strength increase may have resulted from the strong bond of C=C in charcoal particles and loss as a result of the large surface area of ash that remained unburned. The investigation had proven that bamboo charcoal can be employed as an admixture in concrete production while curing is limited to 21days at 4% mix.
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