Abstract
This research is devoted to modification of physical and mechanical properties and structure of a binder based on natural anhydrite. A sedimentary rock siltstone was added into the composition as a mineral ultrafine additive. The presence of aluminosilicate minerals proves that finely ground siltstone can be used as a mineral additive in the composition of the anhydrite binder, accelerating crystallization of gypsum new formations and densifying the structure of gypsum stone. For the first time, the effectiveness of using sodium and ammonium phosphates as hardening activators of an anhydrite binder was shown. Siltstone, added to the composition in the amount from 0 to 5%, lead to up to 40% increase in strength, which is due to the action of siltstone particles as “crystallization centers” and formation of crystalline hydrates of calcium sulfate dihydrate on their surface. Combined action of calcined siltstone and lime leads to a 45% increase in strength due to the additional compaction by new hydration products formed in the course of metakaolin and lime interaction. Microstructural analysis showed that samples with calcined siltstone and lime have a more dense and uniform structure with a lower porosity, compared to those with only natural siltstone.
Highlights
Nowadays resource-efficient and energy-saving technologies are becoming key fields of building materials science, making it necessary to use new types of natural raw materials, such as natural anhydrite, as a sort of gypsum
Siltstone, added to the composition in the amount from 0 to 5%, lead to up to 40% increase in strength, which is due to the action of siltstone particles as “crystallization centers” and formation of crystalline hydrates of calcium sulfate dihydrate on their surface
It is known that anhydrite deposits lay under gypsum layers, so the production of natural anhydrite binders is recommended to be organized at the existing gypsum quarries and factories
Summary
Nowadays resource-efficient and energy-saving technologies are becoming key fields of building materials science, making it necessary to use new types of natural raw materials, such as natural anhydrite, as a sort of gypsum. It is known that anhydrite deposits lay under gypsum layers, so the production of natural anhydrite binders is recommended to be organized at the existing gypsum quarries and factories. Anhydrite binders can be obtained by high-temperature firing of gypsum stone as well as by fine grinding of anhydrite stone with the addition of hardening activators. The properties of anhydrite, both artificial and natural, are significantly different from that of gypsum binder (Sergeeva & Sycheva, 2017; Wang et al, 2013) due to greater reactivity and surface activity. The production of natural anhydrite binders is currently at a very low scale, due to the fact that raw materials of each particular deposit are not studied well enough and their physical and mechanical characteristics are not sufficient to create composite materials for various application fields
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