Abstract
Alkaline activation of fly ashes is a procedure that enables an alternative binder which has been receiving much interest by several research groups particularly on the manufacturing of mortars and concretes. The properties of the materials that are developed during the alkaline activation are influenced by the curing conditions (temperature and relative humidity). Another relevant facet related to the curing procedures is the possibility of carbonation occur, which may have an impact on the mechanical strength of the alkaline cements. In this research, several sets of curing conditions were tested to understand which one results in a higher strength and reveals carbonation. Uniaxial compressive strength tests were conducted to assess mechanical behavior. The outcome suggests that higher temperature and low relative humidity yields higher mechanical strength.
Highlights
Sustainable development is one of the current main priorities and one crucial issue is environmental responsibility
The alkaline cements are an alternative binder, which properties are influenced by curing conditions, with a wide range of practical applications
The present research aimed to assess which curing conditions leads to higher compressive strength and display carbonation on alkali-activated fly ashes
Summary
Sustainable development is one of the current main priorities and one crucial issue is environmental responsibility. The cement manufacturing industry is a major source of industrial pollution. The production of 1 ton of cement results in the emission of 1 ton of CO2 to the atmosphere (Davidovits 1991); in Portugal, this industry is the third larger greenhouse gas emitter (ZERO 2016). Alkaline activation is a method used in the development of alternative binders in which the raw materials are industrial waste (e.g., fly ashes), it requires an activator (solution) and a precursor (solid state). This procedure may be described as an aluminosilicate hydration reaction, with alkaline or alkaline-earth substances (Pinto 2004). The alkaline activation process can be branched in three different stages: a) dissolution of the amorphous phase
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