Effect of sodium hydroxide concentration on EAFS based alkali activated binder

Abstract

The emission of greenhouse gases primarily CO2 during the production of cement is a substantial global threat. Along with this the disposal of industrial waste is also a key concern due to leachate. In order to lower the emissions and make better use of industrial waste, a novel technology termed alkali-activated binder (AAB) can be a potential alternative to ordinary portland cement. In the past few years, AAB’s have been a phenomenon of remarkable interest to the construction sector because of their exceptional mechanical qualities and sustainability. The selection of the source material is a critical factor to develop AAB’s. This research attempts to utilize the electric arc furnace slag (EAFS) generated from the production of steel through EAF route as the primary precursor. Four different variations of sodium hydroxide (SH) molarity (8, 10, 12, and 14) were used to investigate its effect on the fresh and mechanical properties of EAFS-based AAB. The alkali to binder ratio of 0.40, curing temperature 80 °C, and 85% humidity were used for preparing the AAB. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and X-Ray diffraction (XRD), are used for material characterization and for analyzing microstructural development.