Pozzolan
Encyclopedia
A pozzolan is a material which, when combined with calcium hydroxide
, exhibits cement
itious properties. Pozzolans are commonly used as an addition (the technical term is "cement extender") to Portland cement
concrete mixtures to increase the long-term strength and other material properties of Portland cement concrete, and in some cases reduce the material cost of concrete. Pozzolans are primarily vitreous
siliceous materials which react with calcium hydroxide to form calcium silicate
s; other cementitious materials may also be formed depending on the constituents of the pozzolan.
The pozzolanic reaction may be slower than the rest of the reactions that occur during cement hydration
, and thus the short-term strength of concrete
made with pozzolans may not be as high as concrete made with purely cementitious materials; conversely, highly reactive pozzolans, such as silica fume
and high reactivity metakaolin
can produce "high early strength" concrete that increase the rate at which concrete gains strength.
The first known pozzolan was pozzolana
, a volcanic ash, for which the category of materials was named. The most commonly used pozzolan today is fly ash
, though silica fume
, high-reactivity metakaolin
, ground granulated blast furnace slag
, and other materials are also used as pozzolans.
A pozzolan is a siliceous or aluminosiliceous material, which is highly vitreous. This material independently has few/fewer cementitious properties, but in the presence of a lime-rich medium like calcium hydroxide
, shows better cementitious properties towards the later day strength (> 28 days). The mechanism for this display of strength is the reaction of silicates with lime to form secondary cementitious phases (calcium silicate hydrates with a lower C/S ratio) which display gradual strengthening properties usually after 7 days.
The extent of the strength development depends upon the chemical composition of the pozzolan: the greater the composition of alumina and silica along with the vitreous phase in the material, the better the pozzolanic reaction and strength display.
Many pozzolans available for use in construction today were previously seen as waste products, often ending up in landfills. Use of pozzolans can permit a decrease in the use of Portland cement when producing concrete, this is more environmentally friendly than limiting cementitious materials to Portland cement. As experience with using pozzolans has increased over the past 15 years, current practice may permit up to a 40 percent reduction of Portland cement used in the concrete mix when replaced with a carefully designed combination of approved pozzolans. When the mix is designed properly, concrete can utilize pozzolans without significantly reducing the final compressive strength or other performance characteristics.
Calcium hydroxide
Calcium hydroxide, traditionally called slaked lime, is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Ca2. It is a colourless crystal or white powder and is obtained when calcium oxide is mixed, or "slaked" with water. It has many names including hydrated lime, builders lime, slack lime, cal, or...
, exhibits cement
Cement
In the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
itious properties. Pozzolans are commonly used as an addition (the technical term is "cement extender") to Portland cement
Portland cement
Portland cement is the most common type of cement in general use around the world because it is a basic ingredient of concrete, mortar, stucco and most non-specialty grout...
concrete mixtures to increase the long-term strength and other material properties of Portland cement concrete, and in some cases reduce the material cost of concrete. Pozzolans are primarily vitreous
Glass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
siliceous materials which react with calcium hydroxide to form calcium silicate
Calcium silicate
Calcium silicate is the chemical compound Ca2SiO4, also known as calcium orthosilicate and sometimes formulated 2CaO.SiO2. It is one of group of compounds obtained by reacting calcium oxide and silica in various ratios e.g. 3CaO.SiO2, Ca3SiO5; 2CaO.SiO2, Ca2SiO4; 3CaO.2SiO2, Ca3Si2O7 and...
s; other cementitious materials may also be formed depending on the constituents of the pozzolan.
The pozzolanic reaction may be slower than the rest of the reactions that occur during cement hydration
Mineral hydration
Mineral hydration is an inorganic chemical reaction where water is added to the crystal structure of a mineral, usually creating a new mineral, usually called a hydrate....
, and thus the short-term strength of concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
made with pozzolans may not be as high as concrete made with purely cementitious materials; conversely, highly reactive pozzolans, such as silica fume
Silica fume
Silica fume, also known as microsilica, is a fine-grain, thin, and very high surface area silica.It is sometimes confused with fumed silica and colloidal silica...
and high reactivity metakaolin
Metakaolin
Metakaolin is a dehydroxylated form of the clay mineral kaolinite.Rocks that are rich in kaolinite are known as china clay or kaolin, traditionally used in the manufacture of porcelain. The particle size of metakaolin is smaller than cement particles, but not as fine as silica fume.-Forming...
can produce "high early strength" concrete that increase the rate at which concrete gains strength.
The first known pozzolan was pozzolana
Pozzolana
Pozzolana, also known as pozzolanic ash , is a fine, sandy volcanic ash. Pozzolanic ash was first discovered and dug in Italy, at Pozzuoli. It was later discovered at a number of other sites as well...
, a volcanic ash, for which the category of materials was named. The most commonly used pozzolan today is fly ash
Fly ash
Fly ash is one of the residues generated in combustion, and comprises the fine particles that rise with the flue gases. Ash which does not rise is termed bottom ash. In an industrial context, fly ash usually refers to ash produced during combustion of coal...
, though silica fume
Silica fume
Silica fume, also known as microsilica, is a fine-grain, thin, and very high surface area silica.It is sometimes confused with fumed silica and colloidal silica...
, high-reactivity metakaolin
Metakaolin
Metakaolin is a dehydroxylated form of the clay mineral kaolinite.Rocks that are rich in kaolinite are known as china clay or kaolin, traditionally used in the manufacture of porcelain. The particle size of metakaolin is smaller than cement particles, but not as fine as silica fume.-Forming...
, ground granulated blast furnace slag
Ground granulated blast furnace slag
Ground-granulated blast-furnace slag is obtained by quenching molten iron slag from a blast furnace in water or steam, to produce a glassy, granular product that is then dried and ground into a fine powder.-Applications:GGBS is used to make durable concrete structures in combination with ordinary...
, and other materials are also used as pozzolans.
A pozzolan is a siliceous or aluminosiliceous material, which is highly vitreous. This material independently has few/fewer cementitious properties, but in the presence of a lime-rich medium like calcium hydroxide
Calcium hydroxide
Calcium hydroxide, traditionally called slaked lime, is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Ca2. It is a colourless crystal or white powder and is obtained when calcium oxide is mixed, or "slaked" with water. It has many names including hydrated lime, builders lime, slack lime, cal, or...
, shows better cementitious properties towards the later day strength (> 28 days). The mechanism for this display of strength is the reaction of silicates with lime to form secondary cementitious phases (calcium silicate hydrates with a lower C/S ratio) which display gradual strengthening properties usually after 7 days.
The extent of the strength development depends upon the chemical composition of the pozzolan: the greater the composition of alumina and silica along with the vitreous phase in the material, the better the pozzolanic reaction and strength display.
Many pozzolans available for use in construction today were previously seen as waste products, often ending up in landfills. Use of pozzolans can permit a decrease in the use of Portland cement when producing concrete, this is more environmentally friendly than limiting cementitious materials to Portland cement. As experience with using pozzolans has increased over the past 15 years, current practice may permit up to a 40 percent reduction of Portland cement used in the concrete mix when replaced with a carefully designed combination of approved pozzolans. When the mix is designed properly, concrete can utilize pozzolans without significantly reducing the final compressive strength or other performance characteristics.
See also
- Aerated autoclaved concreteAerated autoclaved concreteAutoclaved aerated concrete , also known as autoclaved cellular concrete or autoclaved lightweight concrete , was invented in the mid-1920s by the Swedish architect and inventor Johan Axel Eriksson. It is a lightweight, precast building material that simultaneously provides structure, insulation,...
- Alkali-aggregate reactionAlkali-aggregate reactionAlkali–aggregate reaction is a term mainly referring to a reaction which occurs over time in concrete between the highly alkaline cement paste and non-crystalline silicon dioxide, which is found in many common aggregates...
- Calcium silicate hydrateCalcium silicate hydrateCalcium Silicate Hydrate is the main product of the hydration of Portland cement and is primarily responsible for the strength in cement based materials.-Preparation:...
(CSH) - CementCementIn the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
- Cement chemist notationCement chemist notationCement chemist notation was developed to simplify the formulas cement chemists use on a daily basis. It is a "short hand" way of writing the chemical formula of oxides of calcium, silicon, and various metals.-Abbreviations of oxides:...
- CenosphereCenosphereA cenosphere is a lightweight, inert, hollow sphere filled with inert air or gas, typically produced as a byproduct of coal combustion at thermal power plants. The color of cenospheres varies from gray to almost white and their density is about 0.4–0.8 g/cm³, which gives them a great buoyancy...
s - PozzolanaPozzolanaPozzolana, also known as pozzolanic ash , is a fine, sandy volcanic ash. Pozzolanic ash was first discovered and dug in Italy, at Pozzuoli. It was later discovered at a number of other sites as well...
- Pozzolanic reactionPozzolanic reactionThe Pozzolanic reaction is the chemical reaction that occurs in hydraulic cement, a mixture of slaked lime with amorphous siliceous materials , forming non-water-soluble calcium silicate hydrates...
(main page) - Rice husk ash
- Roman concreteRoman concreteRoman concrete was a material used in construction during the late Roman Republic through the whole history of the Roman Empire. Roman concrete was based on a hydraulic-setting cement with many material qualities similar to modern Portland cement...
- Sodium silicateSodium silicateSodium silicate is the common name for a compound sodium metasilicate, Na2SiO3, also known as water glass or liquid glass. It is available in aqueous solution and in solid form and is used in cements, passive fire protection, refractories, textile and lumber processing, and automobiles...