In this research palm oil fuel ash was utilized as a pozzolanic material in blended Portland cement mortar. The mortar was tested on the normal compressive strength and the negative effect of carbonation in indoor environment using the accelerated carbonation test of 5% CO2 in 50% relative humidity. Three palm oil fuel ash fractions of different fineness viz. coarse original palm oil fuel ash (CPOA) medium palm oil fuel ash (MPOA) and fine palm oil fuel ash (FPOA) were used for the study. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was partially replaced by these palm oil fuel ashes at the dosages of 20% and 40% by weight of binder. The results showed that the incorporation of the ashes affected the strength and the carbonation depths of mortars. The strengths of mortar slightly decreased with the increases in the dosage of the ash. The fineness of ash on the other hand improved the strength and the carbonation of the mortars. The mortars containing FPOA exhibited high strength and relatively low carbonation in comparison to those using coarser MPOA and CPOA. The use of FPOA resulted in a strong and dense mortar owing to the increased packing effect and pozzolanic reaction. It was therefore demonstrated that the FPOA could be used as a pozzolanic material to replace part of Portland cement for use in the indoor environment.

This research studies the potential for using classified fly ash from Mae Moh power plant in Thailand as a pozzolanic material. Three different fly ash finenesses viz. coarse Original Fly Ash (OFA) Medium Fly Ash (MFA) and Fine Fly Ash (FFA) were used for the study. Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) was partially replaced with fly ash at 20 and 40% by weight of binder. The water to binder ratio was kept constant at 0.5 and the flow of mortar was maintained at 110±5% with the aid of superplasticizer (SP). Compressive strength carbonation depth and porosity test of mortars were determined. FFA has a high potential to be used as a good pozzolanic material. The use of FFA produces mortars with good strength and low porosity. The resistance to carbonation of mortar improves with partial replacement of FFA in comparison with the normal coarse fly ash. The use of FFA results in a strong and dense mortar which is due to better dispersion and filling effect as well as an increase in the pozzolanic reaction.

This paper presented a study on the strength and chloride resistance of mortars made with ternary blends of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) ground palm oil fuel ash (POA) and classified fly ash (FA). The mortar mixtures were made with Portland cement type I containing 0-40wt% FA and POA. FA and POA with 1wt%-3wt% retained on a sieve No.325 were used. The compressive strength and rapid chloride penetration depth of mortars were determined. The results reveal that the use of ternary blended cements produces good strength mortars. The use of the blend of FA and POA also produces high strength mortars and excellent resistance to chloride penetration owing to the synergic effect of FA and POA. A mathematical analysis and two-parameter polynomial model were presented to predict the compressive strength. The mathematical model correlated well with the experimental results. The computer 3-D graphics of strength of the ternary blended mortars were also constructed and could be used to aid the understanding and the proportioning of the blended system.