Fly Ash

BUILDING MATERIALS
Better Performance without Higher Cost

Fly ash - the most commonly used coal combustion product - is a remarkable material that cost-effectively improves the performance of products it is added to.

For instance, in making concrete, cement is mixed with water to create the "glue" that holds strong aggregates together. Fly ash works in tandem with cement in the production of concrete products. Concrete containing fly ash is easier to work with because the tiny, glassy beads create a lubricating effect that causes concrete to flow and pump better, to fill forms more completely, and to do it all using up to 10 percent less water. Because the tiny fly ash particles fill microscopic spaces in the concrete, and because less water is required, concrete using fly ash is denser and more durable. And fly ash reacts chemically with lime that is given off by cement hydration, creating more of the glue that holds concrete together. That makes concrete containing fly ash stronger over time than concrete made only with cement.

Fly ash is also a cost-effective resource. When fly ash is added to concrete, the amount of cement that is necessary can be reduced.

IMPROVING OUR ENVIRONMENT
Conserving Energy, Reducing Emissions, and more...

Because fly ash use displaces cement use, it also reduces the need for cement production - a major energy user and source of "greenhouse gas" emissions.

For every ton of cement manufactured, about 6.5 million BTUs of energy are consumed. For every ton of cement manufactured, about one ton of carbon dioxide is released. Replacing that ton of cement with fly ash would save enough electricity to power the average American home for 24 days, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions equal to two months use of an automobile.

Experts estimate that cement production contributes to about 7 percent of carbon dioxide emissions from human sources. If all the fly ash generated each year were used in producing concrete, the reduction of carbon dioxide released because of decreased cement production would be equivalent to eliminating 25 percent of the world's vehicles.

Conserving landfill space is also an important consideration. Every ton of coal combustion products that is used to improve our nation's highways and buildings is a ton that is not deposited in a landfill, saving the same amount of space that the average American uses over 455 days.

Concrete itself is an environmentally sound building material. Roads and structures built from concrete last longer and require less maintenance than other materials. When used in freeways, concrete can result in less vehicle fuel consumption. Because concrete reflects light, less energy is needed to illuminate the roadway. Concrete is recyclable, with 45 to 80 percent of crushed concrete usable as aggregate in new construction.

Additionally, recent studies conducted by the Environmental Council of Concrete Organizations have determined certain metropolitan areas experience higher overall temperatures than surrounding less-developed areas. Using lighter colored concrete products instead of asphalt pavement can help reduce excessive temperature, further conserving energy.

Fly Ash Centers:

Amsterdam 774 State Route 5S Amsterdam, NY 12010

Jamesville SR 481, Ogle Road Jamesville, NY 13078

Newburgh River Road Newburgh, NY 12550