ABSTRACT
Utilisation of Coal Combustion Product (CCP) from coal-fired power stations is of great interest in Australia. According to ADAA (Ash Development Association of Australia), 12.8 Mt (million tonnes) of coal ash was produced from coal fired utilities in Australia in 2012 (ADAA, 2012). Due to the increase in energy demands, the amount of coal ash continues to increase each year. This increases the pressure on coal and utility industries and associated waste management, to find solutions to the environmental problems that are associated with coal ash disposal, storage and management. One of the good approaches to utilise CCP is to convert fly ash into aggregates as a natural aggregate replacement in concrete. The main reasons to consider this approach are: (1) the increasing demands for aggregates and (2) the depletion of the natural aggregate resources and the limitation on the number of new quarries that can be opened especially in metropolitan areas. Manufacturing of economical and good quality fly ash aggregate will reduce the impact of fly ash on the environment and reduce the need for new quarries.
