The Disadvantages of Fly Ash

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The Disadvantages of Fly Ash in Concrete

By Cora Wilder, eHow Contributor

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Fly ash is a common concrete admixture.

Fly ash is a byproduct from coal-fired power plants that is frequently used as an
admixture in concrete to replace a portion of the Portland cement. Using fly ash in
concrete is environmentally beneficial because it reduces the Portland cement (a major
contributor of CO2) required in concrete. Fly ash in concrete improves performance in
some ways, but it also has some disadvantages.

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 

 Negative Effects of Fly Ash in Concrete

 What Are the Dangers of Fly Ash?

Slower Strength Gain

o Concrete changes from a liquid to a solid a few hours after pouring, but
the curing process may take much longer. It continues to gain strength for
weeks after its initial setting period. The addition of fly ash can increase the
length of time concrete takes to reach its full strength. This can cause
problems when slow strength gain means delays in construction.

Longer Setting Times

o Fly ash admixtures can lengthen the time it takes for concrete to set.
Sometimes this is desirable, particularly in hot weather which speeds up
concrete set times, but at other times it is an inconvenience and can cause
delays in construction. Other admixtures may be necessary to adjust the set
time of the concrete, depending on the percent fly ash in the mixture and the
outside temperature.
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Air Content Control

o Concrete is susceptible to damage from freeze/thaw cycles if it does not
contain air. Tiny air bubbles can be created in concrete by using air-entraining
 admixtures that cause the concrete to foam in the mixing and pouring stage.
Fly ash reduces the amount of air entrainment, and concrete mixtures high in
fly ash often require more air-entraining admixture.

Seasonal Limitations
o The winter season is problematic for concrete pouring, and mixtures high
in fly ash are even more susceptible to low temperatures. Low temperatures
lengthen setting times and cause slow strength gain even in concrete mixtures
without fly ash. When fly ash is added, low temperatures exaggerate these
problems. Some regions have bans or restrictions on using fly ash in the
winter months.

Color Variability
o The structural effects of fly ash may be more critical, but cosmetic
concerns also affect its use in concrete. It is more difficult to control the color
of concrete containing fly ash than mixtures with Portland cement only. Fly ash
also may cause visual inconsistencies in the finished surface, such as dark
streaks from carbon particles.

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Negative Effects of Fly Ash in Concrete

By Tyler Lacoma, eHow Contributor

Fly ash can make concrete less fluid and less willing to set.

Fly ash is a byproduct of the energy created by coal plants. Ordinarily, workers must bury
fly ash in landfills to get rid of it, but fly ash can also be used to replace the cement
particles used in concrete. Fly ash absorbs the water used in concrete mixing, creating a
smoother mixture that dries with greater strength than normal concrete. While fly ash can
be useful and comes in many different mixture proportions, it also has several downsides.
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Fly Ash Effectiveness

o Since fly ash is a recycled material, its specifications are not always
uniform. Both coarse and fine fly ash exist, and the two may not be separated
when they are added to the concrete. The larger, coarse pieces of fly ash cannot
effectively absorb water and make the concrete a stronger substance. Users may
not find the effectiveness they expect if the batch of fly ash they use has many
coarse pieces.

Malleability
o Fly ash does absorb water, and, when it is added to concrete, the mixture
starts to become thicker, decreasing what workers call the slump or fluidity of the
mixture. The thicker the concrete, the more difficult it becomes to spread,
especially in areas where detailed work is needed. If workers want to keep the
concrete malleable, they need to use a different type of additive, such as a
superplasticizer.

Setting Time
o While fly ash does make concrete thick and stronger, it also slows down
the time it takes concrete to set. Different types of fly ash can have different
effects, but in general it takes several more hours for the concrete to set properly,
lengthening construction project times. The effect becomes worse in colder
weather.

Coloring
o Fly ash does not absorb pigments or acid stains as well as cement. In
mixtures that use a high percentage of fly ash, acid stains will not have the same
full color given to normal concrete, which is a problem if users instead to add a
decorative coating to their concrete after it dries.

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What Are the Dangers of Fly Ash?
By Narie Kim, eHow Contributor

Burning coal can produce a dangerous byproduct.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website, fly ash is a byproduct
of burning coal in a boiler to produce electricity. It is a fine, powdery material composed
mostly of silica, tan in color and its particles are spherical. Although useful in cement and
concrete applications, there are dangers of fly ash. Have a question? Get an answer from
a Medical Professional now!

Mercury Content
o According to the Greener Buildings website, fly ash contains
approximately one part-per-million of mercury. If the fly ash has contact with
groundwater, the fish are contaminated, as are the animals and humans that eat
the fish. Mercury causes numerous health problems such as autism in newborns,
endocrine disruption and cardiovascular disease.
Water Contamination
o Mercury content is not the only problem with fly ash contaminating the
water system. According to the Transportation Research Board website, there
are worldwide cases of fly ash water and air contamination, and a large number
of victims suffered from lung infections and skin disease due to fly ash.

Environmental Impact
o Environmentally, animals and vegetation suffer from the contaminates of
fly ash. Cattle that feed on plants contaminated with fly ash suffered from dental
and skin diseases. Animals can die from fly ash, and the Board of Transportation
website states that the population of birds and water animals is decreasing from
fly ash contamination.

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What Are the Dangers of Working in a

Concrete-Based Plant?
By Lee Morgan, eHow Contributor
Concrete factory workers face several health hazards.

Employees who work with concrete are subject to dangers from exposure to the material.
While the extent of the danger related to the concrete is significant in jobs such as
construction, the highest risk to concrete-specific hazards is within the facilities that
manufacture the concrete, according to the IOP Science website. Knowing the potential
risks associated with working in a concrete-based plant can help workers prepare for the
job and minimize the dangers of working there. Have a question? Get an answer from a
Medical Professional now!

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Inhalation Dangers
o People who work in a concrete factory setting are constantly exposed to
the dust from the dried raw materials. Those who sweep and clean are especially
susceptible to inhalation hazards. Portland cement is a common material used to
make concrete, and the dust from the dried cement has been labeled a possible
cancer risk, according to the IOP Science website.
 Inhaling this dust is suspected to increase risk of several cancers, including
pharyngeal carcinoma and gastric cancer. Inhaling this material is also known to
cause nose and throat irritation and respiratory difficulties. Exposure to crystalline
silica dust, another concrete raw material, can lead to a serious lung disease
called silicosis, according to the State Compensation Insurance Fund website.

Skin Contact
o While working with and mixing concrete in a plant, workers are likely to
expose their skin to wet concrete from time to time. As long as the substance is
washed off immediately, irritation is unlikely. However, extended contact with the
skin will cause concrete to burn the skin because of the alkaline nature of the
mixture. These burns can range from first- to third-degree and skin ulcers may
result if the substance is in contact with the skin for long periods.
Even with protective clothing, workers may get bits of concrete trapped inside
boots or have it soak through layers of clothing, according to the Electronic
Library of Construction Occupational Safety and Health. This risk is the same for
both concrete plant workers and construction workers dealing with concrete.

Eye Injury
o The same dust that can cause lung problems when inhaled can also do
damage to the worker's eyes. Depending on the amount of dust that enters the
eyes and the duration before they are rinsed clean with water, the effects can
range from minor eye irritation and redness to chemical burns on the eyeballs,
according to the State Compensation Insurance Fund website.

Allergies
o Some workers who are in the presence of cement regularly develop an
allergy (or occupational asthma) to the hexavalent chromium in the product. This
asthma-like allergy causes breathing difficulty and wheezing. Chromium allergies
may also lead to skin rash or skin ulcers, according to the Electronic Library of
Construction Occupational Safety and Health website.

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