Experimental Study On Chemically Treated Sawdust As A Partial Replacement Of Sand In Pavement Blocks

  • Jessly Rajan, Pratiksha Patil, Darshan Karale

Abstract

Paver blocks are precast concrete products manufactured using cement, fine aggregate, pigmented water and admixture. Many researchers have pointed out the shortage of sand to make concrete after few years, as India herself consumes an estimated 450 million cubic meter of concrete annually. Hence there is an urgent need for the replacement of sand. Sawdust is considered as a waste product of the lumber industry hence with years of research it has been proved that treated sawdust can be used as an alternative to sand when added in the form of filler in concrete. To promote a practical use and acceptance of a new material in concrete pavement blocks by the potential end users, it is necessary to investigate the manufacturing process, properties and feasibility of sawdust in concrete. Sawdust being highly hydrophilic in nature cannot be used without processing in concrete as only limited water is added in concrete for hydration and early strength gain purposes. Hence in this study based on research, two different textile industry processes mercerization and acetylation was carried on pinewood sawdust as 5% and 10% volume fraction replacement of sand. The abrasion resistance of these blocks increased whereas the compressive strength almost remained same when compared to conventional concrete which is significant. This gives an initial hope of partial replacement of sand with the lumber industry waste sawdust in the future by certain changes in the volume fraction, type of sawdust and parameters of the mercerization and acetylation process.

Published
2020-12-01
Section
Articles