Effect of Uncontrolled Burning Rice Husk Ash in Foamed Concrete

Recently, foamed concrete has become a popular construction material that can be used in wide range of constructions application. Whilst the Rice Husk Ash (RHA) as agro-waste is contain high amount of silicon dioxide. RHA is produced in significant amount every year from agriculture countries. RHA has potential as a material to produce foamed concrete. In this research RHA has been used as a replacement for fine aggregate which used in construction as ordinary concrete material. In this study, foamed concrete with target density 1400, 1600 and 1800 kg/m3 has been produced. The compressive strength of foamed concrete with RHA has been tested. Concrete with Ratio 1:3 of RHA/Sand has higher compressive strength than ratios 3:1 and 2:2 of RHA/sand for every density. XRD and XRF test has been used to determinate chemical composition and crystalline structure of RHA. The result showed that RHA is an amorphous material which amorphous is important thing to pozzolanic process when hydration of cement paste. SEM and EDS test has been conducted to determine microstructure and chemical composition on microstructure of RHA foamed concrete. Amorphous RHA incorporating cement paste produces pozzolanic reaction. It is reduces the porosity and width of interfacial zone in such a way the density is increase.