PEF-ACCELERATED CURING ON COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF CEMENT COMPOSITES

Abstract

This study investigates the accelerated curing of cement composite materials using Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) technology. The mechanical and physical properties of cement blended with Biomass Ash (BA) and Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA) were evaluated to enhance the sustainability of construction materials. The accelerated curing was performed by applying a PEF at an electric field intensity of 1 kV/cm with BA and RCA contents ranging from 0 to 20% by weight (wt.%). Curing durations varied from 0 to 50 minutes at room temperature (25 ± 2°C), followed by standard 28-day water curing. During PEF treatment, the internal temperature increased from 35°C to 64°C due to electro-thermal conversion. The compressive strength of specimens incorporated with 5 wt.% BA showed a reduction (20–24 MPa), with a more significant decrease observed at higher BA contents (10–20 wt.%, 13–14 MPa). In contrast, cement blended with RCA maintained higher structural integrity; the compressive strength decreased slightly during the first 20 minutes and remained constant at approximately 32 MPa up to 50 minutes. Comparative results reveal that cement blended with BA exhibited a lower density and greater strength degradation compared to RCA-blended composites. The reduction in strength at extended durations is attributed to microstructural defects and increased porosity. Overall, the findings indicate that while PEF effectively accelerates the hydration process, optimizing curing duration is critical to avoid the 'shell effect' and maintain mechanical performance. PEF curing shows promise for developing high-performance, sustainable cement materials by utilizing industrial waste efficiently.