Performance Evaluation of RHA-Blended Cements: A Pathway toward Sustainable Cement Standards
Taofiq BELLO, Oluwafemi Isaiah OGUNTOLA, Caesar Msughter SHAWON, Ajani Oludayo AKINTOLA, Emmanuel Babatunde KOKU-OJOMU, Akeem Ayinde RAHEEM
Abstract. The construction industry’s heavy reliance on Portland Lime Cement (PLC) contributes significantly to global CO₂ emissions, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives. This study evaluates the performance of Rice Husk Ash (RHA)-blended cement as viable substitutes for PLC. RHA was sourced from rice industry waste and processed for use as a pozzolanic material. Cement blends (M0-M50) were produced by inter-grinding RHA and clinker at 0-50% partial replacements while maintaining gypsum at 5%. Samples were tested for consistency, setting time, soundness, and compressive strength up to 56 days in accordance with EN 196-1. Results showed increasing water demand (27 to 40.6%) and extended setting times (130 to 270 minutes) with higher RHA content, while all blends maintained 0 mm soundness. At 28 days, M10 matched the strength of PLC (59.4 MPa), and by 56 days, M0–M20 reached comparable strengths (~64.4 MPa), indicating ongoing hydration. Based on EN 197-1 classifications, M0 was rated as grade 52.5, M10-M30 as 42.5, and M40-M50 as 32.5, aligning with high-, medium-, and low-strength applications, respectively. These findings demonstrate the technical feasibility of RHA as a clinker substitute with M20 blend showing optimal performance, thereby supporting the standardization of RHA-blended cements and offering a practical pathway to lower carbon emissions in the construction sector.
Keywords
RHA-Blended-Cement, Clinker-Replacement, Sustainable-Cement, Strength, Cement Grades
Published online 4/2/2026, 8 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Taofiq BELLO, Oluwafemi Isaiah OGUNTOLA, Caesar Msughter SHAWON, Ajani Oludayo AKINTOLA, Emmanuel Babatunde KOKU-OJOMU, Akeem Ayinde RAHEEM, Performance Evaluation of RHA-Blended Cements: A Pathway toward Sustainable Cement Standards, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 63, pp 95-102, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904053-11
The article was published as article 11 of the book Advances in Cement and Concrete Research
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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