The Properties of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete with Assembly Unit of Secondary Aluminum Dross and Waste Fly Ash

Abstract

Waste fly ash (WFA) and secondary aluminum dross (SAD) are common solid wastes inducing environmental pollution. These materials contain certain active substances that can be used in cement-based materials. Therefore, cement concrete can be used to solidify these solid wastes. In this study, the influence of the assembly unit of secondary aluminum dross (SAD) and waste fly ash (WFA) on the properties of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is investigated. The slump flow, the plastic viscosity, the yield shear stress, and the initial setting time of fresh UHPC are measured. Moreover, the flexural and compressive strengths and the dry shrinkage rate (DSR) are determined. The electrical resistance and reactance are tested. The electron microscopy spectroscopy (EDS), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), and X-ray diffraction spectrum (XRD) curves are obtained for revealing the mechanism of macroscopic performances. Results show that due to the optimal specific surface area and the volcanic ash effect, the UHPC with the assembly unit of 50% SAD and 50% WFA provides the highest slump flow, DSR, and mechanical strengths, while the corresponding plastic viscosity, yield shear stress, and electrical resistance are the lowest. The SAD can delay the setting time of UHPC. The relationship between the electrical resistance or the electrical reactance and the mass ratio of SAD accords with the quadratic function. The corresponding electrical resistance is the lowest. The relationship between the mechanical strengths and the electrical resistance fits with the cubic function. The leaching amounts of Zn and Cr increase in the form of cubic function with the immersing time. Meanwhile, the SAD can decrease the Zn and Cr by 0%–46.3% and 0%–45.2% respectively. As obtained from the EDS results, the element of Al is increased by adding SAD. The XRD curves show that the crystals of Al2O3 are increased and the SiO2 crystals are decreased by the added SAD. UHPC with 50% SAD exhibits the highest compact microstructures and the least Ca(OH)2 and 3CaO·SiO2 hydration products. The TG results show that UHPC with 50% SAD shows the lowest TG values of all the groups. This research will provide new UHPC materials and techniques applied in solidifying the WFA and SAD in the future.