Hydration of bamboo leaf ash blended Portland cement

Bamboo leaf ash (BLA) obtained at 600 degrees C was found to be pozzolanic material. The pozzolanic activity was studied by using chemical methods, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopic techniques. Hydration behaviour of 20 wt% BLA blended ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was studied by using different experimental techniques and it was found that at 28 days of hydration the compressive strength value for 20 wt% BLA blended cement mortar was quite comparable to that of mortar made from OPC. The mechanism of pozzolanic activity has been discussed.