The Durability of Concrete Made Up of Sugar Cane Bagasse Ash (SCBA) as a Partial Replacement of Cement: A Review

Concrete is one of the building industry’s most used construction materials. Reducing natural resources, enormous production costs, and environmental issues in cement production have encouraged researchers to partially explore suitable options to substitute Portland cement and the built environment. This article provides a thorough review of the research on the prudent utilization of sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) as a Portland cement replacement in the production of concrete. The methods used to produce SCBA, the effect of calcining temperature on bagasse ash, its physical and chemical characteristics and the strength development phenomenon are discussed. The impact of SCBA on the properties of concrete under the fresh state is also discussed. The physical and durability properties of concrete manufactured with SCBA are reviewed in-depth to understand its impending use for commercial applications. Finally, SCBA-related issues and challenges are described. A few of the outcomes are: (i) An organized incineration method is required for producing good quality SCBA, (ii) the optimum replacement level of cement by SCBA for mechanical and durability properties are 20%, (iii) improved durability due to an impervious microstructure of SCBA-concrete to harmful agents that cause degradation. Even though there is some disagreement among researchers, the majority continue to agree that using SCBA in cementitious composites is advantageous. However, researchers do not consider its usage in reinforced concrete elements such as slabs and beams; thus, further research is recommended. Finally, the formulation of codal recommendations on technical and environmental factors calls for additional research.