A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Engineering of the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand,

Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1976

The purpose of this study is to investigate the possible use of rice hull ash (RHA) as a pozzolanic material in the building industry. An experimental program was conducted .to determine the physical properties of RHA so as to determine its possible use as a pozzolanic material, and the mechanical properties of lime-RHA and cement-lime-RHA mortars. In addition, some building blocks of a standard size were made to study the properties of the materials. Sodium aluminate was added to accelerate the rate of development of strength of the mixes. The method adopted for the preparation and treatment of the blocks was similar to the procedure followed in the small scale industries in Thailand. The test results indicate that 1:2 lime-RHA is the most reactive mix proportion in terms of strength development in the presence of sodium aluminate Also the results show that RHA could be successfully utilized as a component material with lime and cement in the block making industry. In addition, an economic study for the production of medium weight cement-lime-RHA hollow blocks was made to ascertain the feasibility of the methods adopted. The results of this study show that the production cost of the blocks with the above mixes would be 13 to 34 percent cheaper than the cement-sand blocks of the same volume, presently produced in Thailand.