The effect of grinding on the chemical and physical properties of rice husk ash was studied. Four rice husk ashes with different finenesses i.e. coarse original rice husk ash (RHA0) RHA1 RHA2 and RHA3 were used for the study. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was partially replaced with rice husk ash at 20% by weight of binder. The water to binder ratio (W/B) of the mortar was maintained at 110%±5% with flow table test. Specific gravity fineness chemical properties compressive strength and porosity test of mortars were determined. The differences in chemical composition of the rice husk ashes with different finenesses from the same batch are small. The use of RHA3 produces the mortars with good strength and low porosity. The strength of the mortar improves with partial replacement of RHA3 in comparison with normal coarse rice husk ash. The use of RHA3 results in a strong and dense mortar which is due to the better dispersion and filling effect as well as an increase in the pozzolanic reaction.

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.