Autoclave Curing of Cement Pastes with Sugarcane Bagasse Ash

This study proposes an alternative way of using sugar cane bagasse ash (SCBA) in cementitious materials by investigating the influence of autoclave curing on the microstructure of cement paste. Samples were prepared with 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% SCBA as a replacement for cement. Two curing methods were used for the pastes: room temperature curing and autoclave curing. The results showed that the samples cured at room temperature showed similar microstructure development, while distinct hydration products formed under autoclave curing. Tobermorite and traces of xonotlite were detected in samples with high SCBA content, and traces of α-C2SH were present in samples with low SCBA content. These findings demonstrate the potential of autoclave curing to optimize the use of SCBA in cementitious materials.