Experiments and Optimization of Mix Proportions for Cement Paste Backfill Materials with Extra-Fine Unclassified Tailings

Abstract

To produce effective cement paste backfill materials at iron mines technologically and economically, orthogonal experiments of mix proportions with extra-fine unclassified tailings were carried out. The results of the range analysis showed that the sensitivity of influential factors to the slurry slump is sequentially mass concentration, tailing/rock ratio, and cement/(tailing+rock) ratio. The sensitivity to bleeding rate, concretion time and 28-day uniaxial compressive strength is sequentially mass concentration, cement/(tailing+rock) ratio and tailing/rock ratio. Relationships of paste properties and influential factors can be demonstrated with regression analysis. Additionally, the optimal mix proportion for cement paste backfill was obtained with 78% mass concentration, 7:3 tailing/rock ratio and 1:25 cement/(tailing+rock) ratio. The slump, bleeding rate, concretion time and R28 of the optimal mixture are 25.2 cm, 8.77%, 20.9 h and 1.29 MPa, respectively. The experimental results show a feasible way to produce the industry standard backfilling materials.