STRENGTH AND DURABILITY PROPERTIES OF CONCRETE USING METAKAOLIN AS A SUSTAINABLE MATERIAL: REVIEW OF LITERATURES

The demand and use of concrete have led to a lot of research in improving its strength, durability, life cycle, temperature effect and many more. Improving the strength and durability of concrete is very paramount in the construction of basic infrastructure in a bid to make it sustainable. The choice of metakaolin as a supplementary material in improving the mechanical strength and durability of concrete is espoused in this review. This was done in a bid to reduce the cost of cement being one of the most expensive component of concrete production and to also improve sustainability in the construction industry. The review revealed that the use of metakaolin in the production of concrete showed an improved mechanical strength. Literatures revealed that up to 10%-20% increase in mechanical strength is recorded with the use of metakaolin in concrete production. Additionally, the durability properties of concrete with metakaolin also improved. However, the review revealed that incorporating metakaolin in concrete production reduced the workability of concrete and increased the heat of hydration. The result of this review showed that the use of metakaolin reduced the cost of producing concrete. Based on the uniqueness of the material, it is recommended for use in countries where it is abundant in a bid to promote sustainability in concrete technology, improve mechanical strength and reduce cost.