15 - Metakaolin

Abstract

Metakaolin (MK) is one type of calcined clay and it comes from the calcination of kaolin clay, and there have been some interests in the use of MK in recent years (Siddique and Klaus, 2009). For example in the United Kingdom, the coal-fired power industry will come to close in the next 10 years and fly ash will cease to be generated. Alternative pozzolanic materials are required to be used in order to improve the properties of concrete such as durability and reduce the amount of cement used in concrete production. This chapter explores the use of MK as partial substitute of cement in paste, mortar, or concrete. The chapter will cover the materials and characterization. The mechanical, physical, and durability properties of cementitious systems will be reported based on the literature available. The use of other pozzolanic materials such as fly ash or ground granulated blast furnace slag in conjunction with MK is also examined as well as the use of alkali materials in the presence of materials. The chapter ends with the main conclusions and recommendations for the future.