http://www.ide.titech.ac.
jp/~otsukilab/lecture/advanced%20con silica and alumina of Class F fly ash requires a cementing
crete%20technology/11-1%20Wan-
brief%20intro%20Use%20of%20Mineral%20Admixture%20in
%20Concrete.pdf
2. MINERAL ADMIXTURES
Cementitous
These have cementing properties themselves.
Pozzolanic
Siliceous or siliceous and aluminous materials which in
themselves possess little or no cementitious value but will, in
finely divided form and in the presence of moisture, chemical
react with Ca(OH)2 at ordinary temperatures to form
compounds possessing cementitious properties.
The pozzolanic reaction is slow, so the rate of the strength
development and the heat of hydration associated with this
reaction are low. It may be noted that the pozzolanic reactions
can be accelerated by temperature.
Conditions to Declare a Material Pozzolan:
Having silica + Alumina oxide+ ferrous oxide more
than 70%.
Surface area on normal admixture is more than
300m/kg.
Surface area should be more than cement used
Fly Ash
Fly ash is a by-product of the combustion of pulverized coal in
thermal power plants. The dust collection system removes the
fly ash, as a fine particulate residue, from the combustion
gases before they are discharged into the atmosphere.
One of the important characteristics of fly ash is the spherical
form of the particles that contributes in improvement of
concrete flowability.
Concrete using fly ash is generally reported to show reduced
segregation and bleeding and to be more satisfactory than
plain concrete when placed by pumping.
In contrast to the loss of strength that occurs with ordinary
portland cement, fly ash concrete show strength gains as a
consequence of heating.
Fly Ash commonly used:
Class F Fly Ash:
The burning of harder, older anthracite and bituminous coal
typically produces Class F fly ash. This fly ash is pozzolanic in
nature, and contains less than 10% lime (CaO). The glassy
agent, such as Portland cement, quicklime, or hydrated lime,
with the presence of water in order to react and produce
cementitious compounds.
Class C Fly Ash:
Fly ash produced from the burning of younger lignite or
subbituminous coal, in addition to having pozzolanic
properties, also has some self-cementing properties. In the
presence of water, Class C fly ash will harden and gain
strength over time. Class C fly ash generally contains more
than 20% lime (CaO). Unlike Class F, self-cementing Class C
fly ash does not require an activator. Alkali and sulfate (SO4)
contents are generally higher in Class C fly ashes.
Blast Furnace Slag
Blast furnace slag is a by-product of pig iron manufacture.
When quenched rapidly with water or air to a glassy state and
finely ground, it develops the property of latent hydraulicity.
Blast furnace slag has chemical component similar to that of
Portland cement. Due to hydraulicity, therefore, its use
contributes not only to improvement in concrete performance,
but also to resource and energy savings.
Concrete containing slag as a mineral admixtures generally
offers better chemical resistance due to improved
watertightness, since the concrete texture becomes dense.
Ground granulated blast-furnace (GGBF) slag is the granular
material formed when molten iron blast furnace slag (a by-
product of iron and steel making) is rapidly chilled (quenched)
by immersion in water. It is a granular product, highly
cementitious in nature and, ground to cement fineness,
hydrates like Portland cement.
Concrete made with GGBFS cement sets more slowly than
concrete made with ordinary Portland cement, depending on
the amount of GGBFS in the cementitious material, but also
continues to gain strength over a longer period in production
conditions. This results in lower heat of hydration and lower
temperature rises, and makes avoiding cold joints easier,
but may also affect construction schedules where quick setting
is required.
Silica Fume
- Silica fume is an industrial by-product consisting of ultrafine
particle(0.01m). It is recovered from electric furnace by
means of dust collectors from the waste gas emitted during
the production of ferro-silicon metal.
- Silica fume is a highly pozzolanic materials.
- Difficult to handle so necessary to use (highrange) water-
reducing admixture
In mortar and concrete containing silica fumes shows
outstanding characteristics in development of strength, this
property is explained as resulting from the decrease in the
volume of large pores in concrete, hence making the concrete
texture dense.
 It has been found that Silica Fume improves compressive
strength, bond strength, and abrasion resistance; reduces
permeability of concrete to chloride ions; and therefore helps in
protecting reinforcing steel from corrosion, especially in
chloride-rich environments such as coastal regions.

Rice Husk Ash

- Rice husk ash is obtained by burning rice husk.
- Highly pozzolanic characteristic.
- The properties are greatly affected by the burning conditions.
The large amount of unburnt carbon due to the incomplete
combustion exist and make the color of rice husk ash is black,
whereas, the burning is done under enough air supply
condition the rice husk ash become gray and white.
- The white rice husk ash has better quality compared to the
black rice husk ash due to the existence of carbon affecting
adversely on the reactivity.