Optimization of Coal Ash Water Treatment Conditions to Suppress Concrete Pop-out Based on Coal Ash Containing Expansion Components

Coal ash has been used as a sand replacement in the construction industry. Due to the use of bituminous coal as a result of anthracite depletion, and quicklime as an air purifier in the desulfurization process, pop-out defects have recently occurred in concrete using coal ash, severely limiting the recycling of coal ash into concrete. In this study, the components that cause the pop-out problem of the coal ash filled concrete were identified and a pretreatment method to fully expand the expansive components in advance was proposed as a solution to this problem. By treating water twice for 10 min, allowing the CaO mixed in the coal ash to fully expand, the problems of pop-out and reduced compressive strength of the concrete were overcome. The cost and time efficient water treatment method proposed in this study is expected to promote the recycling of coal ash into concrete.