Experimental Studies on the Strength Enhancement of Concrete Incorporating Diatomaceous Earth, Expanded Perlite and Polytencrete NGT Admixture

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of Diatomaceous Earth (DE), Expanded Perlite (EP), and Polytencrete NGT on the strength of M30 grade concrete. Cement was partially replaced with DE at 10% and 15%, while fine aggregate was replaced with 15% EP, and Polytencrete NGT was added at 0.3% by weight of cement. Two mixes, M1 (10% DE + 15% EP) and M2 (15% DE + 15% EP), were compared with normal concrete. Tests were conducted for workability, compressive strength, and split tensile strength. The results showed that M1 achieved the highest improvement in both compressive and tensile strength compared to the normal mix.

Introduction

Concrete is a cornerstone of modern construction due to its strength, adaptability, and versatility, making it the second most consumed material globally after water. However, conventional concrete, primarily using Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), faces environmental challenges due to high carbon emissions and resource depletion. Sustainable alternatives are being explored, including Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) and replacements for natural sand.

Diatomaceous Earth (DE), rich in silica, reacts with calcium hydroxide during cement hydration to form calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H), enhancing strength and durability while reducing cement use. Expanded Perlite (EP), a lightweight, porous material, improves insulation, reduces water penetration, and partially replaces sand. Polytencrete NGT, a PCE-based superplasticizer, enhances workability without increasing water content, contributing to stronger, more workable concrete.

Literature Review Findings:

• SCDE/DE as cement replacement: 10–15% replacement improves long-term compressive strength, reduces density, lowers water absorption, and enhances sustainability. Optimal performance occurs at ~15% DE.

• EP as fine/coarse aggregate replacement: 15–30% EP reduces density and improves thermal insulation but slightly decreases compressive strength, suitable for lightweight or moderate-strength applications.

• DE improves strength via pozzolanic reactions and formation of additional C-S-H gel; EP improves lightweight and insulation properties.

Objectives:

• Develop concrete mixes incorporating DE (10–15% replacement) and EP (15% replacement) compared to normal concrete.

• Evaluate fresh-state (workability) and hardened-state (strength, density, water absorption) properties.

Methodology:

• Materials: OPC 53 cement, river sand, crushed stone aggregates, potable water, DE, EP, Polytencrete NGT superplasticizer.

• Mix Design: M30 grade concrete, following IS:10262-2019 and IS:456-2000 standards. DE partially replaced cement at 10% and 15%; EP replaced sand at 15%; Polytencrete NGT added at 0.3% by weight of cement. Uniform material batches ensured reliable results.

Conclusion

1) Adding Diatomaceous Earth (DE) and Expanded Perlite (EP) greatly affected the properties of M30 concrete. 2) M1 mix (10% DE + 15% EP) showed best workability with a 90 mm slump and good flow. 3) M1 achieved highest compressive strength (36.50 N/mm²) and tensile strength (2.37 N/mm²). 4) M2 mix (15% DE + 15% EP) showed lower strength and workability due to excess water absorption by DE. 5) Tensile strength was 6.76–7.67% of compressive strength at 7 days and 6.49–6.93% at 28 days. 6) This indicates minor microcracks or weak bonding. 7) M1 mix with 10% DE, 15% EP, and Polytencrete NGT gave the best overall performance.

References

[1] Leandro J. R. Magalhaes˜ ˜ 1 | Débora Macanjo Ferreira 1 | Ana Belén Ramos-Gavilan 2 “Enhancing concrete sustainability with spent diatomaceous earth from the wine industry: Long-term experimental and statistical analysis,” Wiley Structural Concrete. 2024; 1–19. DOI: 10.1002/suco.202400889. [2] Jiaqi Li a, *, Wenxin Zhang a, Chen Li a,b, Paulo J.M. Monteiro “Green Concrete Containing Diatomaceous Earth And Limestone: Workability, Mechanical Properties” J. Liet al. /Journal of Cleaner Production 223 (2019) 662e679, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.03.077 [3] Y. Madhusudhan Reddy, Dr. T. Chandra Sekhar Reddy “Micromechanical Properties of Concrete with Partial Replacement of Cement with Diatomaceous Earth” International Journal of Technical Innovation in Modern Engineering & Science (IJTIMES), Volume 6, Issue 3, March 2020, e-ISSN: 2455-2585, Impact Factor: 5.858 (SJIF-2019) [4] V. Khonsari, E. Eslami & Ah. Anvari, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran “Effects of expanded perlite aggregate (EPA) on the mechanical behavior of lightweight concrete” Proceedings of FraMCoS-7, May 23-28, 2010 [5] I?lker Bekir Topc¸u a,?, Burak Is¸ Is¸?kdag? b “Effect Of Expanded Perlite Aggregate On The Properties Of Lightweight Concrete” journal of materials processing technology 204 (2008) 34–38, doi:10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2007.10.052 [6] Ozkan Sengula?, Senem Azizib, Filiz Karaosmanoglub, Mehmet Ali Tasdemir “Effect Of Expanded Perlite On The Mechanical Properties And Thermal Conductivity Of Lightweight Concrete.” Energy and Buildings 43 (2011) 671–676, doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2010.11.008 [7] Alex, A.G.; Jose, P.A.; Saberian, M.; Li, J. Green Pervious Concrete Containing Diatomaceous Earth as Supplementary Cementitious Materials for Pavement Applications. Materials 2023, 16, 48. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010048 [8] Naifah et al., “The Resistance of High Strength Concrete with Diatomaceous Earth As Cement Replacement to NaCl Attack,” Virtual Conference on Engineering, Science and Technology (ViCEST) 2020, doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1933/1/012104 [9] Bhuvaneshwari. K1, Dr. Dhanalakshmi. G2, Kaleeswari. G “Experimental Study On Lightweight Concrete Using Perlite,” International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) Volume: 04 Issue: 04 | Apr -2017 [10] Jaroslav Pokorny, Martina Zaleska, Milena Pavlikova, Zbysek Pavlik “Properties of Fine-Grained Concrete with Admixture of Diatomite Powder” IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 603 (2019) 022045 IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1757-899X/603/2/022045 [11] Bharvi Sharma, Raju Sharma, and Prem Pal Bansal, “Effect of fine aggregate replacement with expanded perlite and pumice on the development of lightweight concrete,” Australian Journal of Civil Engineering, DOI: 10.1080/14488353.2021.1930635 [12] Methawee Sriwattanapong1, Theerawat Sinsiri1*, Saksith Pantawee2, and Prinya Chindaprasirt3, “A Study Of Lightweight Concrete Admixed With Perlite,” Suranaree J. Sci. Technol. 20(3):227-234 [13] S. Pantawee—Graduate Student; T. Sinsiri—Lecturer, “The Use Of Natural Pozzolans In Lightweight Concrete,” supported by Suranaree University of Technology and Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, is gratefully acknowledged. [14] Arianit A. Reka1, Pavel V. Smirnov2,3, Petr Belousov4, Bujar Durmishi1, Lamamra Abbdesettar5, Patrick Aggrey6, Sakshi Kabra Malpani7, Hirijete Idrizi8, “Diatomaceous Earth: A Literature Review,” Journal of Futuristic Sciences and Applications Vol. 6(1), Jan-Jun 2023, pp. 20-26 doi: 10.51976/jfsa.612303 [15] IS 456:2000 Code of Practice for Plain and Reinforced Concrete, “Bureau of Indian Standards,” New Delhi, India. [16] IS 10262:2019 Recommended Guidelines for Concrete Mix Proportioning “Bureau of Indian Standards,” New Delhi, India. [17] IS 383:2016 Specification for Coarse and Fine Aggregates for Concrete. “Bureau of Indian Standards,” New Delhi, India. [18] IS 2386 (Part III):1963 Methods of Test for Aggregates for Concrete. “Bureau of Indian Standards,” New Delhi, India. [19] IS 12269:2013 Specification for Ordinary Portland Cement, 53 Grade. “Bureau of Indian Standards,” New Delhi, India. [20] IS 1199:1959 Methods of Sampling and Analysis of Concrete, “Bureau of Indian Standards,” New Delhi, India. [21] IS 516:1959 Method of Tests for Strength of Concrete, “Bureau of Indian Standards,” New Delhi, India. [22] IS 5816:1999 Method of Test for Splitting Tensile Strength of Concrete “Bureau of Indian Standards,” New Delhi, India.

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Shriyavallabha M S, Prof. Rajkumar Tadkal. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.