Effect of vermiculite addition on the compressive strength of concrete

Abstract

To Knowledge development and technology in the world of construction, one of which is the search for new materials that can increase strength in concrete. As we already know, the smaller the ratio of water to cement in the concrete mixture (FAS), the higher chances of increasing concrete strength. Therefore, in this research, an added material that has strong characteristics in water absorption is used, namely vermiculite. Vermiculite is a mica mineral in the form of flakes with water absorption capacity of 106.9%. The mineral content contained in vermiculite is SiO2 (41.60%), Al2O3 (13.38%), Fe2O3 (6.29%), MgO (24.60%), and H2O- (2.73%). The percentage addition of vermiculite to the concrete mixture was 0% (as a control variable), 12%, 24%, and 36%, then the compressive strength of the concrete tested. The results of the strength test shows the highest compressive strength was the addition of 36% vermiculite percentage of 33.16 MPa, followed by the addition of 24% vermiculite of 32.35 MPa, the addition of 12% vermiculite was 30.47 MPa, and the lowest compressive strength is the concrete without the addition of vermiculite which has 29.67 MPa strength. In addition, the greater the percentage of adding vermiculite to the concrete mixture, the lighter the weight of the concrete will be.