A new approach to improving durability of rice husk ash blended concrete with re-dispersible polymer powder

Abstract

An experimental investigation was conducted to improve the limitation of Rice Husk Ash (RHA) blended concrete in terms of durability by incorporating re-dispersible polymer powder. To investigate the durability properties of Rice Husk Ash Polymer-Modified Concrete (RHAPMC) matrix, the RHAPMC mix of 1:2:3 proportions was used to prepare specimens. To prepare Rice Husk Ash-Modified Mix (RHAMM), 10% of RHA was replaced with cement. RHAPMC was made with the inclusion of polymer at a ratio of 1 to 7.5% by the weight of cement. The most common durability-related properties including water absorption, density, water permeability, ultrasonic pulse velocity, and compressive strength were experimentally investigated. The results showed a remarkable improvement in durability characteristics in the newly developed matrix of RHAPMC, which could be used as a repair material in an aggressive environment.