scholarly journals Effect of the Sodium Silicate Modulus and Slag Content on Fresh and Hardened Properties of Alkali-Activated Fly Ash/Slag

Minerals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaowei Ouyang ◽  
Yuwei Ma ◽  
Ziyang Liu ◽  
Jianjun Liang ◽  
Guang Ye

This paper presents the results of an experimental study performed to investigate the effect of activator modulus (SiO2/Na2O) and slag addition on the fresh and hardened properties of alkali-activated fly ash/slag (AAFS) pastes. Four activator moduli (SiO2/Na2O), i.e., 0.0, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0, and five slag-to-binder ratios, i.e., 0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, were used to prepare AAFS mixtures. The setting time, flowability, heat evolution, compressive strength, microstructure, and reaction products of AAFS pastes were studied. The results showed that the activator modulus and slag content had a combined effect on the setting behavior and workability of AAFS mixtures. Both the activator modulus and slag content affected the types of reaction products formed in AAFS. The coexistence of N–A–S–H gel and C–A–S–H gel was identified in AAFS activated with high pH but low SiO2 content (low modulus). C–A–S–H gel had a higher space-filling ability than N–A–S–H gel. Thus, AAFS with higher slag content had a finer pore structure and higher heat release (degree of reaction), corresponding to a higher compressive strength. The dissolution of slag was more pronounced when NaOH (modulus of 0.0) was applied as the activator. The use of Na2SiO3 as activator significantly refined the pores in AAFS by incorporating soluble Si in the activator, while further increasing the modulus from 1.5 to 2.0 prohibited the reaction process of AAFS, resulting in a lower heat release, coarser pore structure, and reduced compressive strength. Therefore, in view of the strength and microstructure, the optimum modulus is 1.5.

Author(s):  
Thushara Raju ◽  
Namitha S ◽  
Muhammed Nabil K ◽  
Mohammed Rafeeque N. V ◽  
Reshma Sundhar ◽  
...  

Alkali Activated Material (AAM) is introduced as a pioneering construction material in the construction diligence to trim down the utilization of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and to curtail the amount of carbon dioxide released during the production of OPC. Modestly refined industrial by products or natural materials rich in alumino silicates are the binding agents used in AAM. Generally, heat curing is needed for the alkali activated mortar to achieve the required hardened properties and this difficulty can be overcome by adding slag to the mix. In this experimental analysis, the alkali activated mortar mixes with different proportions of glassy granulated slag and Class F fly ash were prepared without the usage of superplasticizers, with alkali to binder (a/b) ratios of 0.7, 0.8 and 0.9. The rheological characteristics of mortar were studied using flow table apparatus and hardened properties were studied using compressive strength test and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) test by testing cylindrical specimens of size 25 mm diameter and 50 mm height. The mortar specimens were air-cured, and the compressive strength and UPV test were conducted after 3 and 7 days. The test results showed that due to the presence of higher alkali content and the decrease in slag content, the workability of alkali activated mortar was improved, but the measure of strength decreased. The mix with 100% slag and a/b ratio of 0.8 had the best UPV value, indicating its quality among the various mortar mixes studied. This study portrays the significance of optimising the alkali and slag content in tailor making an alkali activated mortar system with good hardened properties.


2011 ◽  
Vol 287-290 ◽  
pp. 1237-1240
Author(s):  
Lan Fang Zhang ◽  
Rui Yan Wang

The aim of this paper is to study the influence of lithium-slag and fly ash on the workability , setting time and compressive strength of alkali-activated slag concrete. The results indicate that lithium-slag and fly-ash can ameliorate the workability, setting time and improve the compressive strength of alkali-activated slag concrete,and when 40% or 60% slag was replaced by lithium-slag or fly-ash, above 10 percent increase in 28-day compressive strength of concrete were obtained.


Crystals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 946
Author(s):  
Oriana Rojas-Duque ◽  
Lina Marcela Espinosa ◽  
Rafael A. Robayo-Salazar ◽  
Ruby Mejía de Gutiérrez

This article reports the production and characterization of a hybrid concrete based on the alkaline activation of a fly ash (FA) of Colombian origin, which was added with 10% Portland cement (OPC) in order to promote the compressive strength development at room temperature. The alkali-activated hybrid cement FA/OPC 90/10 was classified as a low heat reaction cement (type LH), according to American Society of Testing Materials, ASTM C1157; the compressive strength was of 31.56 MPa and of 22.68 MPa (28 days) at the levels of paste and standard mortar, respectively, with an initial setting time of 93.3 min. From this binder, a hybrid concrete was produced and classified as a structural type, with a compressive strength of 23.16 MPa and a flexural modulus of rupture of 5.32 MPa, at 28 days of curing. The global warming potential index (GWP 100), based on life cycle analysis, was 35% lower than the reference concrete based on 100% OPC. Finally, its use was validated in the manufacture of a solid block-type construction element, which reached a compressive strength of 21.9 MPa at 28 days, exceeding by 40.6% the minimum strength value established by the Colombia Technical Standard, NTC 4026 (13 MPa) to be classified as high class structural blocks.


Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 3410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shin Hau Bong ◽  
Behzad Nematollahi ◽  
Ali Nazari ◽  
Ming Xia ◽  
Jay Sanjayan

Currently, there are a very limited number of studies on the effect of admixtures on properties of ‘one-part’ geopolymers. This paper reports the effects of different superplasticizers and retarders on fresh and hardened properties of one-part fly ash-slag blended geopolymers made by different solid activators. Two different grades of sodium silicate, namely anhydrous sodium metasilicate powder (nSiO2/nNa2O = 0.9) and GD Grade sodium silicate powder (nSiO2/nNa2O = 2.0) were used as the solid activators. Five different commercially available superplasticizers, including three modified polycarboxylate-based superplasticizers (denoted as PC1, PC2, and PC3) and two naphthalene-based superplasticizers (denoted as N1 and N2), as well as three different retarders, including sucrose, anhydrous borax and a commercially available retarder, were investigated. Workability, setting time and compressive strength of the mixtures without and with addition of each ‘individual’ admixture were measured. The results showed the effect of admixtures on the properties of the one-part geopolymers significantly depended on the type of solid activator and the type of admixture used. When GD Grade sodium silicate powder was used as the solid activator, all investigated admixtures not only had no positive effect on the workability and setting time, but also significantly reduced the compressive strength of the mixture. However, when anhydrous sodium metasilicate powder was used as the solid activator, the PC1 and sucrose were the best performing superplasticizer and retarder, respectively, causing no reduction in the compressive strength, but significant increase in the workability (up to + 72%) and setting time (up to + 111%), respectively as compared to the mixture with no admixture. In addition, the results also showed that addition of ‘combined’ admixtures (i.e., PC1 in the presence of sucrose) significantly increased the workability (up to + 39%) and setting time (up to + 141%), but slightly reduced the compressive strength (−16%) of the mixture activated by anhydrous sodium metasilicate powder, as compared to the mixture with no admixture.


2011 ◽  
Vol 250-253 ◽  
pp. 1147-1152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Jun Jiang ◽  
Yan Yun ◽  
Zhi Hua Hu

The feasibility of manufacturing non-autoclaved aerated concrete using alkali activated phosphorus slag as a cementitious material was investigated in this paper. Liquid sodium silicate with various modules (the molar ratio between SiO2 and Na2O) was used as alkali activator and a part of phosphorus slag was replaced with fly ash which was used to control the setting time of aerated concrete. The influences of the fly ash, curing procedure, modulus of sodium silicate solution and concentration of alkalis on the compressive strength and bulk density of non-autoclaved aerated concrete have been studied. Moreover, the types of the hydration products were investigated using XRD and SEM. The results indicate that: the compressive strength of aerated concrete was influenced by concentration of alkalis obviously. The compressive strength of 11.9MPa and the bulk density of 806kg/m3 were obtained with an activator of 1.2 modulus of sodium silicate and 6% concentration of alkalis under the circumstance of 60°C curing for 28 days.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (22) ◽  
pp. 6962
Author(s):  
Bo Fu ◽  
Zhenyun Cheng ◽  
Jingyun Han ◽  
Ning Li

This research investigates the mechanism of metakaolin for mitigating the autogenous and drying shrinkages of alkali-activated slag with regard to the activator parameters, including concentration and modulus. The results indicate that the incorporation of metakaolin can decrease the initial viscosity and setting time. Increasing activator concentration can promote the reaction process and shorten the setting time. An increase in the metakaolin content induces a decrease in compressive strength due to reduced formation of reaction products. However, increasing activator dosage and modulus can improve the compressive strength of alkali-activated slag containing 30% metakaolin. The inclusion of metakaolin can mitigate the autogenous and drying shrinkage of alkali-activated slag by coarsening the pore structure. On the other hand, increases in activator concentration and modulus result in an increase in magnitude of the autogenous and drying shrinkage of alkali-activated slag containing metakaolin. The influence of the activator modulus on the shrinkage behavior of alkali-activated slag-metakaolin binary system should be further investigated.


1984 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark D. Baker ◽  
Joakim G. Laguros

AbstractThe setting and strength gaining process of PC concrete containing Class C high lime fly ash were related to the reaction products identified using XRD and SEM. Four fly ash concrete mixes (20, 30, 40, and 50 percent replacement of cement by fly ash) and similar paste mixes were compared to control mixes for curing periods up to one year. Setting time and early compressive strength were adversely affected by the addition of fly ash. Beyond one week all of the fly ash concrete mixes gained strength at a faster rate than the corresponding control mixes. XRD studies suggest that the retardation mechanism may be associated with the high levels of ettringite formed early in the hydration process and its conversion to monosulfoaluminate. A decrease in the level of calcium hydroxide, typical of pozzolanic activity, was not in evidence. SEM micrographs of fly ash spheres in concrete at the various stages of hydration reveal an intricate crystal framework. A simple heat of hydration test is presented which helps explain the strength gains observed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 733 ◽  
pp. 76-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad B. Malkawi ◽  
Mohd Fadhil Nuruddin ◽  
Amir Fauzi ◽  
Hashem Al-Mattarneh ◽  
Bashar S. Mohammed

In this study, different types of plasticizers were used to investigate their effects on the fresh and hardened properties of high calcium fly ash geopolymers (HCFA). Modified polycarboxylate polymers (G3) and lignin-based polymers (G1) were used as plasticizing admixtures and the results were compared to the effect of tap water addition. The results showed that all the admixtures used are effective in increasing the workability of the HCFA geopolymers mixtures and the workability increased by 25-48% compared to the control mixtures. However, the use of G3 has adversely affected the strength by a reduction of 20%. While the use of G1 reduced the final setting time by 7% which is critical in the case of HCFA geopolymers where the final setting time occurs within 70 minutes. Water can be considered as the best admixture in terms of cost, setting time, and effect on compressive strength and it can be used where medium workability enhancement is required.


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