New Sustainable Portland Pozzolana Cements with Waste Volcanic Ash
摘要
The use of volcanic ash as a supplementary cementitious material has been extensively investigated in recent decades [1–4]. However, no results are known about the use of volcanic ash from Etna, which has different pozzolanic properties than products from other volcanoes, in cement production. In this work the use of Etna volcanic ash as a pozzolanic constituent in the manufacture of a type IV mixed cement has been explored. Thousands of tonnes of ash are erupted for each Strombolian event on the volcano Etna (Italy). The periodicity and magnitude of the events is variable but very often impressive. In the year 2021 alone, more that 50 significant paroxysmal events occurred. The enormous quantities of material removed from urbanised areas constitute a valuable resource that can be reused instead of being disposed of as waste. The experimental results of the tests carried out for the physical, mechanical and chemical characterization of the new mixed cement [5] showed that the volcanic material meets the requirements dictated by the standard EN 196–5 to assess pozzolanic properties, and can be effectively used in the production of commercial pozzolanic cements as a partial, or even total replacement for the natural pozzolans. A commercial Portland Cement (PC) type IV = AP42:5RSR, containing 72% of clinker 3% of gypsum and 25% of natural pozzolan and six blended cement mixes were studied, varying the replacement percentage (10%, 25%, 35%, 50%, 75%, 100%) of the natural pozzolan with waste volcanic ash. The experimental research demonstrates that Etna volcanic ash can be effectively re-used in the production of blended pozzolanic cements in accordance with the requirements of standard EN 196, satisfying the pozzolanic reactivity test. The mechanical strength is not affected by the presence of the ash, whatever the replacement percentage, at different curing ages, from 2 to 90 days. These findings are fundamental to encourage the start-up of a production chain aimed at recycling the waste eruptive material of volcanoes that insist on urbanised areas.