Fly ash concrete is made from a by-product of coal burning, which is harmful to the environment. It requires less cement and water, is easier to work with, and can be transported further. However, some companies may find it difficult to obtain fly ash, and there are two types of fly ash concrete: Class F and Class C, with Class C being the better option.
Fly ash concrete is a type of concrete constructed using a by-product, known as fly ash, created when coal is burned. When coal burns, it produces three different byproducts, known as coal combustion products or CCBs, one of which is a very fine dust known as fly ash. This dust is harmful both to people who might breathe it in and to the environment. Often the by-products are dumped in landfills where they damage the surrounding environment.
To avoid this, some of the fly ash left over from burning coal is turned into fly ash concrete. Fly ash concrete was discovered in 1929 by engineers who were working on the Hoover Dam. Engineers realized they could use the fly ash to form a concrete mix that needed less cement than regular concrete mix.
There are several benefits to using fly ash concrete other than helping the environment. Fly ash concrete is typically easier to work with than typical concrete and requires less water to produce. The qualities of fly ash concrete allow it to be transported greater distances than regular concrete, meaning a business can travel farther to a job site. It also reduces bleeding, a problem caused when too much water is used and the excess water floats to the top of the concrete.
While it provides these benefits, not all companies use fly ash concrete for a variety of reasons. Some manufacturers may find it difficult to obtain fly ash to put into their concrete and will instead choose the easily accessible materials available in their area. Others are concerned that mineral makeup could vary depending on where it was shipped, producing inconsistent mixes or having poor freeze-thaw performance.
Concrete is classified into two categories: Class F and Class C. Class F fly ash is produced from anthracite or bituminous coal while class C is from lignite or sub-bituminous coal. The key difference is whether or not the concrete is classified as “pozzolan”.
Pozzolanic materials can act like cement when water and certain materials are added. Class C fly ash is considered a pozzolanic material because it can form a cement-like substance to produce concrete. Class F, on the other hand, cannot and therefore requires a cementing agent to help it adhere and form the concrete. Class C fly ash concrete is typically considered the best type, but both will work when the appropriate materials are added to the mix.
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