Effect of Inorganic Admixture for Magnesia Cement Using MgCO3 and Serpentine

Abstract

【The carbon dioxide( $CO_2$ ) released while producing building materials is substantial and has been targeted as a leading contributor to global climate change. One of the most typical method to reducing $CO_2$ for building materials is the addition of slag and fly ash, like pozzolan material, while another method is reducing $CO_2$ production by carbon negative cement development. The MgO-based cement was from the low-temperature calcination of magnesite required less energy and emitted less $CO_2$ than the manufacturing of Portland cements. It is also believed that adding reactive MgO to Portland-pozzolan cements could improve their performance and also increase their capacity to absorb atmospheric $CO_2$ . In this study, the basic research for magnesia cement using $MgCO_3$ and magnesium silicate ore (serpentine) as main starting materials, as well as silica fume, fly ash and blast furnace slag for the mineral admixture, were carried out for industrial waste material recycling. In order to increase the hydration activity, $MgCl_2$ was also added. To improve hydration activity, $MgCO_3$ and serpentinite were fired at $700^{\circ}C$ and autoclave treatment was conducted. In the case of $MgCO_3$ as starting material, hydration activity was the highest at firing temperature of $700^{\circ}C$ . This $MgCO_3$ was completely transferred to MgO after firing. This occurred after the hydration reaction with water MgO was transferred completely to $Mg(OH)_2$ as a hydration product. In the case of using only $MgCO_3$ , the compressive strength was 3.5MPa at 28 days. The addition of silica fume enhanced compressive strength to 5.5 MPa. In the composition of $MgCO_3$ -serpentine, the addition of pozzolanic materials such as silica fume increased the compression strength. In particular, the addition of $MgCl_2$ compressive strength was increased to 80 MPa.】