Effect of Calcium Carbonate on Compressive Strength and Physical Properties of Alkali-Activated Lightweight Concrete

Abstract

This study presents the compressive strength and physical properties of alkali-activated lightweight concrete. Alkali-activated lightweight concrete was synthesized with fly ash, calcium carbonate and sodium hydroxide solution. Calcium carbonate was designed to replace part of fly ash at 5 and 10 wt.%. Sodium hydroxide solution at 5, 7.5 and 10 M was used as a liquid solution. Liquid to ash ratio (L/A ratio) at 0.45 was designed and aluminium powder was used as a foaming agent. The results showed that, the compressive strength of alkali-activated lightweight concrete made with fly ash was increased with NaOH concentration increased. The maximum compressive strength at 6.0 MPa was obtained from 10M NaOH mixture. For fly ash-calcium carbonate system, the compressive strength of lightweight concrete was improved when containing calcium carbonated, especially at 5 and 7.5 M NaOH mixtures. The maximum of compressive strength at 8.1 MPa and bulk density were obtained from the 5 wt.% calcium carbonated with 10M NaOH mixture. Water absorption and voids of all mixtures trend to decrease with increased NaOH concentration. XRD showed the sodium aluminum silicate hydrated as an alkali-activated product and composed of Si/Al atomic ratio at 2.1 and Na/Al atomic ratio at 1.4, respectively. Bulk density and compressive strength of alkali-activated lightweight concrete made with both fly ash and fly ash-calcium carbonated were acceptable in accordance with the specified criteria of TIS 2601. The well pore structure distribution of alkali-activated lightweight concrete was acceptable.