Performance analysis of ordinary portland cement and portland pozzolan cement cement in improving sea sand and sea water concrete with zeolite powder

Abstract

This study examines the performance of concrete made with sea sand sea water using two types of cement: ordinary portland cement (OPC) and portland pozzolan cement (PPC), with the incorporation of zeolite powder. Variations in zeolite content (0%, 7.5%, and 10%) were tested to evaluate compressive strength at 14, 28, and 56 days, as well as durability after immersion in a 5% Na₂SO₄ solution for 30, 60, and 90 days. The results indicate that OPC-based concrete generally achieves higher compressive strength compared to PPC. The addition of 7.5% zeolite to OPC yielded optimal compressive strength at 56 days, while PPC with 10% zeolite demonstrated significant improvements, despite lower overall strength. Durability testing revealed that PPC concrete exhibited superior resistance to aggressive environments, particularly sulfate attack. The addition of 10% zeolite significantly enhanced durability up to 90 days of immersion. For OPC concrete, 7.5% zeolite effectively reduced porosity and improved durability, although a slight decline was observed at 90 days. These findings highlight that while OPC provides better compressive strength, PPC with zeolite offers superior durability under harsh environmental conditions, making it a recommended choice for concrete construction in coastal regions.