Possibility to manufacture lightweight concrete from aluminum powder, mineral additives, and binders without cement

Abstract

Lightweight concrete is an unburnt artificial stone with a dry density in the range of 500 kg/m3 to 1800 kg/m3. In addition, concrete with a dry density of less than 500 kg/m3 is considered to be particularly light concrete. This article presents some experimental results on the composition and properties of lightweight concrete using materials available in Vietnam. Materials used include fly ash, blast furnace slag, TOTO ceramic powder, aluminum powder, and activated alkaline solution. The experimental results show that there is a potential to be a good quality lightweight concrete, with a dry density of less than 1800 kg/m3 and a compressive strength at the age of 28 days ranging from 15–25 MPa. With an activated solution/total Alumino-sicate material content of 0.40, a ceramic powder of 20%, and an aluminum powder content of 0.35-0.40 kg per cubic meter, lightweight concrete of density 1600kg/m3 and compressive strength at the age of 28 days was the highest.