A new pozzolanic material for cement industry: Bamboo leaf ash

Abstract

Bamboo leaf fired in an open atmosphere and then heated at 600
o
C for 2 h in a furnace was found to be an
amorphous material containing amorphous silica. The ash was characterized by chemical analysis, powder Xray
diffraction and SEM techniques. Reactions of the ash with calcium hydroxide showed it to be pozzolanic in
nature. The pozzolanic reactivity increased with time and temperature. When 20 wt% bamboo leaf ash was
mixed with Portland cement, the compressive strength at 28 days of hydration was comparable to that without
ash. This was due to pozzolanic reactions. The mechanism of pozzolanic reactivity has been discussed.