Enhancing concrete sustainability: the role of palm oil fuel ash in improving compressive strength and reducing environmental impact

• Published in: Journal of Building Pathology and Rehabilitation
• Main Author: Sakri M.F.; Ismail R.; Zakwan F.A.A.; Hashim N.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Nature 2025
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85207488180&doi=10.1007%2fs41024-024-00524-1&partnerID=40&md5=30808c53df8b520bec627eb402904314

This study investigates the use of Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) as a partial replacement for cement in concrete to improve sustainability in building. Multiple concrete samples were examined with varying percentages of POFA substitution (0%, 10%, 20%, 25%, 30%, and 50%) to assess their compressive strength and durability. The findings indicated that concrete including 25% POFA exhibited a 35% enhancement in compressive strength relative to the control group after 28 days of curing, with compressive strength increasing from 29,541 N in the control sample to 39,973 N in the 25% POFA sample. Nonetheless, elevating the POFA content to 30% resulted in a 26% reduction in compressive strength, signifying diminished mechanical performance at elevated replacement levels. Conversely, concrete containing 30% POFA exhibited enhanced sulphate resistance, demonstrating a mass loss of about 1.1%, in contrast to 6.9% for the control sample. The results indicate that a 25% inclusion of POFA is ideal for achieving a balance between strength and sustainability, but increased POFA content may be appropriate for settings necessitating enhanced durability. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.