Speaker
Description
Abstract The sustainable utilization of industrial by-products is essential for supporting circular economy principles and developing sustainable construction materials. This study evaluates the potential use of fly ash from the Kosovo B Thermal Power Plant as a supplementary cementitious material through microstructural and chemical characterization using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF).SEM analysis revealed a heterogeneous microstructure consisting of fine particles with irregular morphology. EDS results identified oxygen (86.08 wt.%) as the dominant element, followed by carbon, calcium, silicon, aluminum, sulfur, and magnesium. XRF analysis showed average concentrations of 32.28% SiO₂, 9.01% Al₂O₃, 6.76% Fe₂O₃, and 32.93% CaO, indicating the presence of calcium-rich aluminosilicate phases suitable for cementitious applications. The fly ash exhibited a low Loss on Ignition (LOI) value of 2.88%, reflecting efficient combustion and low unburned carbon content. Mechanical testing yielded average compressive strengths of 14.66 MPa after 7 days and 35.14 MPa after 28 days, confirming the suitability of fly ash for incorporation into cement-based materials. The generated SEM, EDS, XRF, and mechanical-property data provide a valuable basis for Materials Informatics databases and future data-driven optimization of industrial by-product utilization. The results demonstrate that Kosovo B fly ash is a promising secondary raw material for sustainable cement production.
| Conference Topics | Advanced Characterization Methods |
|---|