Analyzing Performance of Used Insulation Oil as Admixture for Concrete

Abstract

Used Insulation Oil (UIO) is the black waste oil extracted after usage in transformer. This oil has no further usefulness and is disposed to land causing soil degradation. In our study, we examined how concrete behaves when adding UIO as admixture. For varied proportions of UIO i.e., 1%, 1.5% and 2% by weight of cement, properties like workability, Compressive Strength (at 3,7,14 and 28 days), Heat of Hydration, Water absorption and Flexural strength are comparatively studied with conventional M25 grade concrete. The results showed much reduced workability under increasing dosages but improved Flexural and Compressive strength at 1.5% dosage. On increasing dosage of oil, the fresh concrete became highly viscous and sticky thereby leading to poor workability. However, the hardened concrete showed better performance. Water absorption and heat of hydration were notably reduced under increasing dosages. Compressive and Flexural strength were increased at 1.5% dosage.