What is fly ash?
Fly ash is the bi-product of the coal combustion process used to make electricity at many power plants across the country. It is the light-weight material that is separated from bottom ash, which is then collected and stored in silos for testing or recycling.
Why does using fly ash benefit the environment?
There has been a lot of discussion in recent years about the use of fly ash and how it can benefit the environment. When fly ash is used as a replacement for Portland cement in the process of producing cement, it helps to:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Portland cement can produce about one ton of CO2 for every ton of cement
- Increase the strength and durability of the final product
- Fly ash increases strength over time and will also withstand harsh elements
By using fly ash, we are keeping it from going into landfills and reducing the mining of natural resources.
Is fly ash safe to use?
Fly ash has been used in concrete construction since the Hoover Dam was built in 1942. Since the 1950’s, it has also been used in road construction. In 2013, the EPA determined that the encapsulated beneficial reuse of fly ash is equal to or below the regulations required for comparable materials. To put into laymen’s terms, when fly ash is mixed with water, it causes a reaction that creates a binder, which changes the composition of the material. The process is very similar to using flour to make bread. When flour is mixed in the batter, it changes. After the bread is baked, you can’t get flour back out of it.
To get more information about fly ash and why we use it in our products, please visit https://saturnmaterials.com/what-is-fly-ash/.