Status of ASTM and Other National Standards for the Use of Fly Ash Pozzolans in Concrete

ABSTRACTThe Subcommittee of ASTM that is responsible for pozzolan specifications, (C09.03.10) is currently revising C 618, the standard specification, and C 311, the standard test methods. It is no small task. It is generally considered that dividing fly ashes into two classifications (Class F and Class C) is no longer acceptable. The Subcommittee has reached the tentative conclusion that one class of fly ash pozzolan is more appropriate and less ambiguous, provided it is accompanied by an optional table outlining the appropriate limits for sulfate resistance, heat of hydration, hydraulic properties, etc. That is, the engineer need specify only a fly ash pozzolan. If the engineer needs more than a “general purpose” fly ash he calls for special characteristics from the optional requirement table. Any major revision in the C 618 specification challenges the Subcommittee to look for better and more useful test methods in C 311. The committee is looking at C 1012 for a sulfate resistance procedure, conduction calorimetry as a heat of hydration method, and better methods to evaluate pozzolanic activity. The committee is aware of the limited usefulness of hydrated lime or sodium hydroxide in evaluating pozzolanic activity. Perhaps a more suitable term, i.e. the activity index with cement, is more appropriate. Fly ash properties that need to be evaluated include water reduction, activation by lime and alkalies, hydraulic or self-cementing properties and pozzolanic activity. Any test that tends to compensate for a fly ash's lower reactivity (i.e., accelerated thermal curing at 35°C or 65°C) probably leads to misleading results. A critical look at the national standards of other countries might allow the committee to take a visionary yet practical approach toward a new fly ash specification.