Potential Use of Volcanic Pumice as a Construction Material

Abstract

Volcanic pumice (VP) from Papua New Guinea was investigated and assessed for its industrial utilization. The compressive strength of several concrete mixtures using pumice as lightweight coarse and fine aggregates in different percentages was found acceptable and satisfied the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) requirement for lightweight structural concrete. Pozzolanic activity of pumice powder as a cement additive was tested according to the Italian standards and found to be acceptable. The strength activity index with Portland cement and the effectiveness of pumice admixture as cement additive in controlling alkali–silica reactions and autoclave expansion, satisfied the ASTM requirements. The utilization of VP as a heat-insulating material was tested and the results were also found to satisfy the ASTM requirements. This fact suggests that VP can be utilized in the manufacture of building blocks. The manufacturing of heat-insulating concrete or building blocks using pumice is of prime importance as an energy saver.