Material characteristic of POFA concrete and its application to corrosion resistance evaluation

Abstract

In this study, corrosion resistance of palm oil fuel ash (POFA) concrete as a blended concrete is evaluated by using electrochemical technique. The POFA is an industrial byproduct obtained from fuel ash after extracting palm oil from palm-tree. In order to obtain basic material characteristics of the POFA concrete, tests on compressive strength, slump, weight loss, bleeding and expansion ratio were carried out the early-aged POFA concrete. On the other hand, durability characteristics, both chloride penetration and carbonation depth test, were also conducted. Finally, corrosion resistance were evaluated by applying electro-chemical artificial crack healing technique, and the tests on the impressed voltage characteristic, galvanic current and linear polarization resistance. From the experimental results, it was found that long-term strength, bleeding, lower slump ratio, expansion ratio, chloride penetration, carbonation and corrosion resistance were improved by using the POFA due to activated pozzolanic reaction. It can be also mentioned that POFA concrete has a potential to be used as a cementitious binder for green-recycling resources.