Chemical and Thermal Characterization of Cement Mortar Containing Ground Palm Oil Fuel Ash as a Partial Cement Replacement

This study investigates the influence of using ground palm oil fuel ash (G-POFA) from 10%–30% as cement replacement (by weight) on the cement mortar’s pH under various curing conditions. These findings were supplemented by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Moreover, the resistance of G-POFA blended cement mortars to water absorption and sorptivity was determined. Further, the k-value test was carried out to explain the pozzolanic and filler behavior of G-POFA and to support the results obtained from TGA. It was found that there was no significant impact of several curing conditions on the pH of mortars. The mortar with 10% G-POFA in replacement of cement (G-POFA-10) exhibited the best resistance against water absorption and sorptivity.