Abstract
The development of alkali-activated binders seems to present a greener alternative to OPC. The present study has been made on the low calcium fly ash with alkali activator as an alternative binding material as mortar. The mortar has been prepared with ennore sand and Indian fly ash mixed with alkali activator fluid consisting of sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide of different concentrations. The effect of various parameters such as fluid to fly ash ratio, concentration of alkali activators, curing temperature and duration of curing on the compressive strength of mortar at different ages of 3,7, 28 days has been incorporated. 48 hours curing at about 60-700C seems to be optimum for the present alkali activated fly ash mortar.
Highlights
It is well accepted that new binders are needed to replace Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) for enhanced environmental and durability performance
This study aims to quantify the effect of the activation chemistry on the compressive strength of mortar
As expected the mixture become more workable with the increase of fluid to fly ash ratio
Summary
It is well accepted that new binders are needed to replace Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) for enhanced environmental and durability performance. The urge to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (1 tonne of OPC generates almost 1 tonne of CO2) and the fact that OPC structures, which have been built a few decades ago, are already facing disintegration problems points out the handicaps of OPC binders [1]. Beyond the durability problems originated by imperfect concrete placement and curing operations, the real issue about OPC durability is related to the intrinsic properties of the material. It presents a higher amount of calcium hydroxide, which reacts with acids generating soluble compounds. As a useful mineral admixture, fly ash has been widely utilised in concrete replacing OPC partially all over the world [2,3,4]
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