Evaluation of the addition of sugarcane bagasse ashes in mixed mortars

Abstract The aim of this paper is to analyze the effect of addition of sugarcane bagasse ashes (SCBA) in mixed mortars utilizing a 1:2:9 mix proportion by volume for cement, lime and fine aggregate. The ashes were characterized by its particle distribution, pozzolanic activity, chemical composition, bulk density, moisture content and loss on ignition. Then the mortars were produced with a constant water/cement ratio of 2.64 and a partial replacement of sand with sugarcane bagasse heavy ash using different substitution percentages (0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%). Among these was selected a trace, considering that its features have not undergone significant downsides to the 7.5% replacement of cement by fly ash. The mortars were characterized in the plastic state: water retention, bulk density and air content, and in the hardened state: capillary coefficient, tensile strength by bending test, axial compressive strength and flexural and longitudinal Young's modulus. Thus results analysis showed that the ashes can be incorporated into mortars without causing significant alterations in its properties.