Finding an In-Stock Fly Ash Supplier

Choose R-E-D as Your In-Stock Fly Ash Supplier

Fly ash has become increasingly difficult to source as twenty-three coal-fired plants have gone offline in 2025 alone. This has hurt concrete producers, contractors, and ready-mix concrete operations nationwide as they work to keep infrastructure projects on time and on budget. These supply chain disruptions require a new approach to sourcing this essential raw material.  

R-E-D Industrial Products is a fly ash supplier that carries in stock an off-spec Type F material (off-spec indicates it does not meet ASTM C618 specifications) that ships from three locations in Pennsylvania. Read on to learn more about our products, supply reliability, and the ideal applications for our materials.

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A Growing Demand and Limited Supply

Many fly ash suppliers cannot maintain adequate inventory levels as coal-fired power plants shut down across the United States and globally. Twenty-three coal units at fifteen power plants stopped burning coal in 2025, with seventeen units fully retired and six converting to natural gas operations. Supply shortages stem from this decline, compounded by increased infrastructure spending, stricter environmental regulations mandating fly ash use, and lengthy permitting processes for landfill recovery operations.

The growing supply-and-demand imbalance is reflected in market forecasts, which project the global fly ash market will reach $7.3 billion by 2032, a significant increase from its $4.4 billion valuation in 2024. This growth is fueled by intense competition for available material between cement manufacturers, ready-mix producers, and concrete suppliers. Although landfill harvesting and imports provide some material, these alternative streams are insufficient to offset the supply lost from retired power plants. 

R-E-D is a Quality Fly Ash Supplier

R-E-D Industrial Products carries in-stock fly ash sourced from fluidized bed combustion (FBC) coal-fired power plants that function as a reactive pozzolan when combined with portland cement ,despite not meeting ASTM 618 (due to being of FBC origin). It interacts with calcium hydroxide released during cement hydration, creating calcium silicate hydrate that strengthens the concrete matrix. This chemical reaction produces a binding agent that densifies the microstructure and improves long-term performance. Unlike many other suppliers who are experiencing shortages,

R-E-D maintains inventory availability to meet project timelines without the delays common in today's supply-constrained market.

The spherical particle geometry addresses concrete mix problems that plague projects using poorly graded aggregates. Angular or irregularly shaped aggregates often cause bleeding and segregation during placement and compromise the final product. Fly ash particles fill voids and create a more cohesive mixture that resists the separation of water and solids. Mix designers can correct aggregate deficiencies without sourcing alternative materials or accepting inferior results.

Environmentally-Friendly: Substituting fly ash for Portland cement reduces the carbon footprint of concrete production. Cement manufacturing accounts for substantial CO₂ emissions through limestone calcination and fuel combustion. Each ton of fly ash used prevents approximately one ton of cement production and its associated environmental impact.

Cost-Effective: Material costs decrease when fly ash replaces a portion of cement in the mix design. The price differential between the two materials creates immediate savings on raw material procurement. Projects using optimized replacement rates achieve performance targets while reducing overall concrete production expenses.

Enhanced Long-Term Strength: The pozzolanic reaction continues for months and years after initial placement, steadily increasing compressive strength. While early-age strength may develop more slowly, the extended reaction period produces concrete that surpasses the ultimate strength of Portland cement-only mixtures. Structures gain durability that extends service life and reduces maintenance requirements.

Improved Sulfate Resistance: The refined pore structure and altered chemical composition protect concrete from sulfate attack in aggressive environments. Soils and groundwater containing sulfates cause expansion and cracking in standard concrete formulations. Fly ash incorporation creates a matrix that resists sulfate penetration and chemical degradation.

Reduced Alkali-Silica Reaction: Fly ash mitigates the destructive expansion caused when reactive silica in aggregates combines with alkali hydroxides in cement. The pozzolanic reaction consumes available alkalies, reducing the pH of pore solutions and limiting the potential for alkali-silica reaction. This protection preserves structural integrity in concrete containing reactive aggregates.

What is Fly Ash?

Fly ash is a fine powder byproduct captured from coal-burning power plants by fly ash suppliers. Electrostatic precipitators collect these particles before they exit smokestacks to prevent them from entering the atmosphere. The material consists of small, hard, spherical particles primarily composed of amorphous silica and alumina. Processing and quality control regulate particle size, distribution, shape, amorphous content, and unburnt carbon levels to ensure consistency across applications.

This material serves primarily as a partial cement substitute in concrete mixes. Its properties affect concrete performance in the following fresh and hardened states:

Reduced hydration heat: The pozzolanic reaction occurs more slowly than standard cement hydration, generating less heat during curing. This characteristic prevents thermal cracking in large concrete pours where excessive heat buildup can compromise structural integrity.

Improved workability: Spherical particles create a ball-bearing effect within the concrete mix, allowing materials to flow more smoothly. Mixtures require less water while maintaining the same consistency, making placement and finishing easier.

Enhanced durability: Calcium hydroxide creates a pozzolanic reaction that produces additional calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) to create a denser concrete matrix. This additional C-S-H reduces permeability and increases resistance to chemical attack, and improves the concrete’s ability to withstand freeze-thaw cycles.

Long setting time: The slower reaction rate extends the window for concrete placement and finishing operations. Construction crews gain flexibility in scheduling and can work with the placed concrete longer without premature hardening.

Lower permeability: The refined pore structure blocks moisture infiltration and chemical penetration more effectively than standard concrete. Reduced permeability protects embedded reinforcement from corrosion and extends service life.

There are two primary types of fly ash:

“Type C” originates from lignite or sub-bituminous coal and contains sufficient calcium oxides to behave like a hydraulic cement, forming cementitious compounds (C-S-H) when combined with water. This classification develops higher early-stage concrete strength but typically requires more water in the mix, with optimal cement replacement rates between 20-35 percent by weight. 

“Type F” comes from anthracite or bituminous coal and functions as a pozzolan as it lacks sufficient calcium oxides needed to produce calcium silicate hydrate independently. It delivers improved long-term strength and lower permeability, with recommended dosage rates between 15-25 percent cement replacement by weight.

Partner With R-E-D as Your Fly Ash Supplier

Widespread supply disruptions have made sourcing fly ash a significant industry challenge. Securing a reliable material source is now critical to avoiding costly project delays.

At R-E-D Industrial Products, we are committed to overcoming today’s sourcing challenges for our customers. Our team provides consistent, quality materials to meet your specific project demands.

Click below for a quote and to learn more about securing your fly ash supply.

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