Durability of MSW Fly‐Ash Concrete

Abstract

Durability and leachate characteristics of concrete containing municipal solid waste (MSW) fly ashes from both refuse‐derived‐fuel (RDF) and mass‐burn plants are studied. Performance of the concrete varies significantly depending on the type of MSW fly ash it contained. Concrete containing MSW fly ashes with high loss on ignition values can be entrained with 6–7% air, but high dosages of air‐entraining admixture are needed. Some of the RDF fly‐ash concretes show good freeze‐thaw durability. Freeze‐thaw durability decrease as the amount of MSW fly ash increased. Mass‐burn fly‐ash concrete show superior resistance to surface scaling from deicing salts while RDF fly‐ash concrete exhibits poor scaling resistance. MSW fly ashes and concrete containing them have high levels of chloride ion. EPTOX tests show that none of the leachates from the fly‐ash concretes exceed toxicity limits.