Abstract
This paper looks into the microstructural characteristics of some South African fly ashes and their structural changes with β-cyclodextrin so as to compare their structural responses to FA- βCD composite. Four different fly ashes, obtained from different power stations in South Africa were subjected to XRF, particle size distribution, XRD and FTIR analysis. FA-βCD composites were subjected to XRD and FTIR analyses. The XRF analysis showed that all the fly ash samples used are in class F with SiO2 + Al2O3 + Fe2O3 greater than 70 %. The average particle sizes of all the fly ash samples are less than 0.075 mm. The major mineral phase in all the fly ash samples investigated is Quartz (SiO2). The FTIR analysis shows Si-O-Si asymmetric and Al-O Symmetric stretching vibrations in all the fly ash samples. FA-βCD composites for all the fly ashes revealed additional upcoming peaks between diffraction angles (2θ) 100 and 250, which are not in their raw fly ashes...