Durability of high‐performance concrete incorporating corn cob ash and synthetic fibers

Abstract The construction sector is under growing pressure to lower its environmental footprint, yet it must continue delivering materials that perform at the highest levels. This study fills an important gap in the literature; no previous work has looked at how Corn Cob Ash (CCA) and synthetic fibers work together to influence the full range of durability properties in High‐Performance Concrete (HPC). We systematically tested CCA at replacement levels of 5%–25% and polypropylene/polystyrene fibers at 0.1%–0.4%, evaluating abrasion resistance, electrical resistivity, chloride penetration, water absorption and penetration, fire resistance at 600°C, and resistance to six aggressive chemical solutions after 90 days of exposure. Our findings show that 15% CCA gives the best performance; going beyond this level actually reduces durability. When we combined 15% CCA with 0.4% fibers, we saw significant gains across the board: abrasion resistance improved by 11%–20%, electrical resistivity by 4%–11%, and acid resistance by 8%–10% compared to the control mix. What this tells us is that using CCA alongside synthetic fibers offers a practical, sustainable path to producing durable HPC while simultaneously cutting cement consumption and reducing agricultural waste.