Rice Husk Ash Incorporation in Calcium Aluminate Cement Concrete: Life Cycle Assessment, Hydration and Strength Development

In this research effect of rice husk ash (RHA), as silicate impurities, on the hydration reaction and mechanical strength of calcium aluminate cement (CAC) concrete, as one of the most important non-Portland cements, was investigated. Furthermore, in order to evaluate the environmental performance of mixtures, a lifecycle assessment was performed using the recipe midpoint and endpoint method. Compressive and tensile strength tests were conducted at the ages of 7, 28, and 90 days on specimens containing different contents of RHA (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10%) substituting for cement at the water-cement ratio of 0.4. Moreover, in order to calculate the hydration reaction of the specimens, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed at a rate of 10 °C/min to up to 1000 °C. The results revealed that the use of rice husk ash as a partial replacement at a concentration of 5% could reduce CO₂ emission and ozone depletion by 18.75% and 31%, respectively. The findings indicate that, at 90 days, the mechanical strength of the mixes containing RHA were higher than those of the control mix, with the maximum improvement occurring at the substitution percentage of 5%. In accordance with TGA analysis the substitution of 5% RHA in CAC concrete led to a higher hydration level, which in turn improved the mechanical properties relative to the specimen without RHA at 90 days.