On March 3rd, in Hanoi, the Institute of Building Materials, Elkem Company (Norway), and Nam Viet Joint Stock Company announced the successful testing of using a combination of fly ash from thermal power plants and additives to produce asbestos-free fiber cement in Vietnam.
Researchers have produced wave and flat sheets of fiber-reinforced cement using a process that incorporates silica fume additives provided by Elkem and treated fly ash from the Phả Lại thermal power plant.
Test results indicate that these products meet standards for bending strength, water resistance, and various other technical parameters. They are also highly regarded for their physical and mechanical properties, as well as the durability of the cement when used in the humid tropical climate of Vietnam.
Currently, Vietnam relies entirely on imports for silica fume, a specialized additive powder used in the production of wave and flat sheets of fiber-reinforced cement, causing the production costs of asbestos-free fiber cement to rise significantly.
The utilization of fly ash from thermal power plants combined with silica fume will help mitigate environmental pollution caused by waste from thermal power plants while producing products suitable for housing construction and projects in weak soil areas and earthquake-prone regions.
