Using Pulverized Fuel Ash (PFA) as an alternative construction material / Hassan Al-Faiz Mohamed Ahmed

The consumption of coal to generate electricity in Malaysia has caused concerns as it produces waste material which is PFA that can cause environmental pollution. Recycling the coal combustion by-product materials is the act of processing the waste material to creating an alternative product for construction materials. The use of pulverized fuel ash as a partial cement replacement for producing bricks will reduce the environmental pollution problem caused by excessive production of cement, as well as the requirements for disposing the ash. The use of this by-product would also give benefit status to the construction material. The ash has self-cementing properties that act as normal cement so the production of cement could reduce resulting in reduced carbon dioxide emitted during the manufacture of cement. Other advantages of using pulverized fuel ash are to decrease the permeability of the concrete and thereby increasing the corrosion resistance properties. Furthermore, with PFA utilization, especially in concrete, has significant environmental benefits including the increasing the lifespan of concrete roads by improving concrete durability, reduction in energy used and greenhouse gas when pulverized fuel ash is used to replace manufactured cement, reduction in amount of coal combustion products that must be disposed in landfills, and conservation of other natural resources and materials for making concrete. By adding polystyrene, which cannot decompose, to the brick mixed with the pulverized fuel ash, it will make the brick soundproof and as a great heat insulator because of the polystyrene properties. A normal brick has the strength of about 500 kPa while the PFA brick is 7 times stronger than an ordinary brick which is about 3500 kPa. By improving the shape of the brick into an interlocking stone, it may increase the strength. Even though it has a higher strength than an ordinary brick, it is also lighter because of the use of the pulverized fuel ash and the polystyrene is lighter than cement. By using by-product, such as the pulverized fuel ash it would reduce the prices of all the construction building therefore making it affordable. Not only that, safety is also a huge concern to many people in the world. The brick is lightweight and contains polystyrene; it could act as a shock absorbent material which could reduce the movement of building caused by earthquakes. This brick is made the same way as other bricks. By making a comparison with other bricks such as the Portland brick and the red clay brick, this modified brick containing PFA and polystyrene proved that it is the best performing brick in terms of life span, strength, durability, weight, cost, environmental disaster resistance and uses eco-friendly material.