Utilization of Para Wood Ash in a Prototype of Flat Sheet Cement Composites

Abstract

In Thailand, Para rubberwood is can be used as fuel in the industrial section or disposed to disposal site. Normally, the industrial section generated numerous of para wood ash after use in the processes. For conserving the environment, utilization of para wood ash in the flat sheet cement composite for increasing a waste value added. This research aimed to evaluate the utilization of para wood ash for prototype of flat sheet cement composites as an environmental material. Properties of flat sheet cement composite made from different proportions of para wood ash (5% to 20% by weight) were compared with ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The investigation focused mainly on the effects of para wood ash on the physical and mechanical properties of prototype flat sheet cement composites, as determined following the ASTM standard. Besides, the characteristics of para wood ash were examined by using X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The results showed that para wood ash contained the chemical compositions were CaO, SiO2, and $Al_{2}O_{3}$ were found approximately 45.90%, 17.20%, and 4.09%, respectively. The finding is attributable to the enhanced packing density by the fine para wood ash particle size was found 5 - 10 µm. Moreover, Para wood ash particles only 5% could arrange to fill the inter-particle voids in a specimen for cement replacement.