Influence of Artificial Aggregates on the ITZ's Microstructure of Recycling Concrete

Abstract

Artificial aggregates with high-performance were prepared by the methods including steel slag, furnace slag, fly ash and coal gangue, and the recycling concrete was prepared by artificial aggregates instead of natural aggregates. This kind of concrete abandoned was able to completely regenerate cement, which will make the reuse of concrete possible. The composition and characteristics of the artificial aggregates will produce a significant effect on the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) in recycling concrete. The morphological features and mineral composition of three artificial aggregates were analyzed by SEM and XRD, and the ITZ of three recycling concrete and one ordinary concrete was investigated by SEM and EDS. The results showed that compared with ordinary concrete, although the recycling concretes ITZ had a small amount of CH crystal, most of the space was filled with dense hydration products. The interface width was 40μm, which less than 50μm of ordinary concrete. Artificial aggregates with different ratio of raw materials had a great effect on recycling concretes ITZ. The ITZ of recycling concrete prepared with 30% steel slag, 50% furnace slag, 20% fly ash had the smallest Ca/Si and much more C-S-H. the structure of ITZ was much denser and the microstructure was relatively better.