Features And Benefits of Fly Ash

Fly ash is basically an industrial ash which is formed during the process of burning coal. It is usually found in power plant chimneys in the form of a glassy powder. One of the most significant uses of this by product of coal is that it is used in cement. As coal burns, impure minerals are released into the air. Nowadays, this mineral is captured and cooled. It solidifies and becomes fly ash.

It can be categorized into two classes which include Class C and F. Coal which contains a low amount of carbon and a large amount of calcium is classified under Class C and the ash created by burning coal which contains 10% of carbon falls under Class F.

There are various uses for fly ash in the construction field. It is commonly used as an additive in cement due to its ingrained properties. As it is considered to be stronger than Portland cement, it is widely used for all types of construction purposes.

Benefits:

There are many benefits of using this by-product in cement to make concrete. It is known to be dense and smooth. It is also easy to work with this form of concrete. It is eco friendly and seldom creates pollution. It is also used to make a wide variety of items such as paints, asphalt, tiles, bricks and so forth.

It is used to construct PCC pavements as these pavements require large amount of concrete which can be substituted with this by product. It is therefore considered to be cost effective. Nowadays, it is used to pave roads and parking lots. It is used in hollow blocks, mosaic tiles and cement.

It is resistant to cold weather and therefore it seldom cracks. This by-product of coal is quite durable. It is a non-shrink material that has several applications. It can also be used as a substitute for Portland cement.

The physical properties of this by-product can vary depending on its origin. Although it is widely used for all types of construction purposes, there are many contractors and builders unaware of its beneficial features and uses.

Reasons To Use Fly Ash In Concrete

When coal is burned for the production of electrical power, a form of ash is obtained as the by product. This by product is known as fly ash. It has a fine and glassy appearance. It includes various chemical components such as aluminum, silicon, calcium and iron. This by product has several industrial uses. However, it is basically used as an additive to concrete due to its beneficial features.

In the earlier days, fly ash was disposed in waste lands as it was considered to be a useless product. Nowadays, this by product is considered to be one of the most beneficial products used for a variety of purposes. There are many benefits of using fly ash with concrete.

Some Important Benefits:

Easy To Work: A mixture of concrete and fly ash is considered to be extremely beneficial as it is quite easy to work with this mixture. This particular mixture requires less water which reduces cracking and shrinkage to a large extent.

Affordable: Compared to concrete, fly ash is less expensive and therefore it is often mixed with concrete so that it can be used for several types of construction purposes. It also helps to lower the construction costs to a large extent.

Eco-Friendly: It is also considered to be environment friendly and therefore it is known as green concrete. It also helps to reduce carbon emissions into the environment. Moreover, concrete constructions are durable and strong. Therefore it lasts for a longer period of time when it is mixed with by products such as fly ash.

Blends Concrete: Addition of fly ash in concrete helps to blend the mixture thoroughly. It increases the strength of the concrete material as it makes it less porous.

The use of this by product in concrete has several other benefits. It helps to make the mixture smooth and free flowing. It also creates a smoother finish to the concrete material and thus construction process is simplified.

Today millions of power plants create fly ash by burning coal. It is collected and then used for several industrial and construction purposes. It can also be bought from various reputed online stores at affordable price rates.

Role Of Fly Ash In Industry

Fly ash is a by product derived from the electric combustion of coal which is generated by power plants. In these power plants, coal is first grinded into powder before it is burned. A mineral residue is obtained from the exhaust gases of the power plant which is known as fly ash. It is used for a wide variety of purposes in both agricultural and industrial fields.

Fly ash appears similar to volcanic ashes as it is white in color. It appears like glass powder and contains alumina, silica and iron. The fly ash particles are spherical in shape and blend well with any type of mixture. It is therefore widely used with concrete for various industrial purposes.

Industrial Uses Of Fly Ash:

Portland Cement Concrete: Fly ash is widely used in Portland cement concrete so as to increase the performance of the material.

Roads: It is also used for the construction of roads and banks as it includes a large number of beneficial qualities. It helps to control pollution to a large extent. The use of fly ash also saves the top layer of the soil which is otherwise used for construction purposes. With the use of this by-product, there is hardly any need to excavate soil from areas and fill up the low lying areas. Moreover, it seldom affects agricultural production as the top layer of the soil is seldom used for construction.

Tiles Manufacture: Fly ash is also used to manufacture mosaic tiles which are widely used for construction purposes.

Interlocking pavers: It is also used for the production of interlocking pavers which are made in different sizes and shapes.

Concrete Utilization: Fly ash is mainly used in concrete to increase the durability of concrete structures such as roads, bridges, buildings and so forth. It is mainly used as a fill material as it is quite tensile and increases the durability and strength of the materials.

Bricks: It is also used to make bricks as most of the fly ash products are considered to be eco-friendly. Conventional bricks require a large amount of clay which causes soil depletion. Fly ash bricks help to preserve the soil and the by-product of coal is used to manufacture the bricks.