Enhancement of magnetic activation on the backfilling performance of coal gangue-based composite materials

Abstract

ABSTRACT The large accumulation of coal gangue has resulted in significant environmental contamination and detrimental impacts. Utilizing it as a filler material in coal mining operations may successfully address this issue. It may be used to efficiently alleviate this issue by filling up coal mines. The wettability of magnetized solution on the coal gangue surface and the phase composition, microstructure, and pore structure of hydration products of coal gangue-based composite material (CGCM) at different ages were analyzed by means of contact angle (CA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TG/DTG), mercury intrusion (MIP), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to control the fluidity and mechanical properties of backfilling materials. Simultaneously, an investigation was conducted on the slump expansion, setting time, and compressive strength of composite filler materials derived from magnetized coal gangue. The findings indicate that the application of a magnetic field reduces the interaction force among the molecules in the mixing water. Consequently, this leads to an improvement in the wettability of the coal gangue particle surface. Thus, the fluidity of the backfilling slurry is improved. The permeability and diffusion characteristics of magnetized water surpass those of regular water, The rate of dissolving and hydration reactions of the cementitious active material in the slurry is increased, resulting in a noticeable reduction in the setting time of the slurry. In the backfilling body, magnetized mixing water can encourage the formation of dicalcium silicate (C2S), tricalcium silicate (C3S), and Ca (OH)2. Higher amounts of C-S-H gel and Aft are produced by the pozzolanic action with SiO2, which enhances the pore structure. Thus, the mechanical qualities of the filler body are enhanced. The study findings provide novel insights into the coal gangue backfill mining and offer an environmentally friendly and efficient approach for the large-scale processing and exploitation of coal gangue.