Influence of ultrafine wet grinding on pozzolanic activity of submicrometre sugar cane bagasse ash

Abstract

Sugar cane bagasse ash is an important byproduct of sugar and alcohol production. This residual material requires only grinding and classification in order to achieve adequate fineness and homogeneity to be used as pozzolanic admixture in concrete. In this study, submicrometre ashes were produced from wet grinding using a planetary ball mill. Measurements of the pozzolanic activity of the ashes with cement and lime were carried using mechanical methods based on the compressive strength of mortars. It was observed that the pozzolanic activity of submicrometre ashes is inversely correlated to its particle size. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the grinding intensity clearly increased the sugar cane bagasse ash reactivity.