Abstract
This experimental research investigated the applicability of the liquid crystal display (LCD) by-product of the refining process as a sustainable and alternative alkali activator for ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS) blended cement concrete. Three levels of binder replacement using the industrial by-product, and four water/binder ratios were considered in order to evaluate the effects of the replacement in fresh and hardened properties of the blended concrete. XRD and TG analyses confirmed that the by-product that contains abundant alkali compounds promotes the reactivity of GGBFS. The test results indicated that the incorporation of the by-product results in delayed setting and degraded workability due to the highly porous nature of the by-product, yet shows rapid early-age strength development of the blended concrete as conventional alkaline activators for GGBFS. These characteristics shed light on a simple yet effective and practical means of reusing the industrial by-product as an alternative alkaline activator.
Highlights
As one of the most sustainable approaches to reducing carbon dioxide emissions from the production of cement-based construction materials, various types of industrial by-products are currently used worldwide as Portland cement replacements, called supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), e.g., ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS), fly ash, and silica fume
Various alkali activators have been suggested for adequately promoting strength of blended concrete using SCMs to either partially or fully replace ordinary Portland cement (OPC)
The diffraction patterns of the hardened pastes were analyzed by characterizing the crystal phases in order to investigate the applicability of LCD by-product-based activator (LCDBA) with high alkali content for stimulating GGBFS
Summary
As one of the most sustainable approaches to reducing carbon dioxide emissions from the production of cement-based construction materials, various types of industrial by-products are currently used worldwide as Portland cement replacements, called supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), e.g., ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS), fly ash, and silica fume. Blending cement with SCMs has many advantages—such as reducing carbon dioxide emissions by saving cement, and improving long-term strength, durability, and chemical stability [3,4,5,6,7]—the setting time and early-age strength development can be drastically delayed if the amount SCMs in the blend is excessive, without adequate alkali activators [8,9]. Various alkali activators have been suggested for adequately promoting strength of blended concrete using SCMs to either partially or fully replace ordinary Portland cement (OPC). It is well known that sodium hydroxide (NaOH), sodium silicate (Na2 O·rSiO2 ), sodium carbonate (Na2 CO3 ), and sodium sulphate (Na2 SO4 ) are effective and common ones used to activate GGBFS [10,11]
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