Investigation of Strength, Water Absorption, Heat Conduction by Partially Replacement of Cement with Sugarcane Bagasse and Rice Husk Ash in the Mortar

Global issues like global warming, worldwide economic crisis and recession due to COVID-19, the rising cost of construction energy shortages, therefore, investigation of alternatives of cement those are environmentally friendly, economical and energy efficient is the need of the day. Agro wastes like sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) and rice husk ash (RHA) are abundant in silicon dioxide (SiO2) that is necessary for the hardening of building materials and have a great potential to partially replace cement. The influence of sugarcane bagasse ash and rice husk ash on mortar's mechanical, thermal, and durability properties is the main theme of the study presented. Cement was partially replaced by maximum up to 20% with an increment of 5% by weight of pozzolanic materials (SBA, RHA) and a control mix was cast to investigate their performance in-terms of strength, water absorption and heat conductivity. SEM-EDS test was conducted to find the chemical composition and morphology of SBA and RHA. In order to evaluate that how much load mortar can bear before cracking compressive Strength tests were performed. In addition, water absorption and thermal conductivity test were performed to estimate the porosity and the extent of pozzolanic reaction. The test results showed that RHA was more efficient in-term of strength, water absorption and heat conduction than SBA.