Properties of Microconcrete Produced with Fly Ash and Ultrafine Silica

Abstract

Microconcrete is an important subclass of regular concrete that lacks the coarse aggregate commonly found in standard concrete. This makes it a good candidate for certain casting operations, such as densely reinforced elements. Microconcrete also tends to have better workability and smoother flow in formwork elements than regular concrete. However, one of humanity’s current problems is air pollution caused by chemical, physical, or biological agents with harmful effects on the environment. Carbon dioxide (CO2) resulting from cement production is a major atmospheric pollutant. To align with sustainable development standards, the construction industry must seek alternative materials that are more environmentally friendly. This article presents a comparison of the properties of regular microconcrete and microconcrete with additives such as fly ash and ultrafine silica. This topic is important because environmental issues are becoming more pressing. The results show that using waste products as additives in microconcrete can provide a sustainable solution for reducing carbon dioxide emissions and environmental impact. Although lower strengths were obtained compared to traditional concrete, microconcrete with waste products can be used in various applications, such as the production of prefabricated construction elements or the rehabilitation of existing structures. Additionally, it can be used in the construction of paving stones, sidewalks, or industrial floors, contributing to reducing pollution and environmental impact.

Keywords

• concrete
• compressive strength
• ultrafine silica
• fly ash