Cement In Concrete Production Research Articles

Assessment of flexural response of RC beams and unrestrained shrinkage of fiber-reinforced high-volume fly ash-based no-aggregate concrete and self-compacting concrete

The use of industrial byproducts as a substitute for cement in concrete production to improve its properties is becoming a widespread practice in producing sustainable concrete. Although research around the world emphasizes higher substitution levels of fly ash (FA) to accrue the benefits from the microstructure refinement, no attempt has been made to study the deflection behavior and drying shrinkage of concrete that is devoid of aggregates while supplementing 80% of cement with class F fly ash (F-FA). Two types of concrete are used to cast full-scale reinforced concrete (RC) beams of size 150×300×2200 mm. The first type is a novel no aggregate concrete (NAC) made up of 80% F-FA and 20% ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The second type is high-volume fly ash self-compacting concrete (HVFASCC), which has 60% F-FA as a cement supplement and is equivalent in compressive strength to NAC. The NAC is reinforced with polypropylene fibers (PF) in three varying volume fractions: 0.6%, 0.8%, and 1.0%. All the beams are tested under a simply supported four-point loading condition. The drying shrinkage strain and mass loss are measured for prisms of size 75×75×300 mm up to 220 days exposed at 20% relative humidity (RH) and 50 ºC temperature in a humidity oven for all the mixes. The mechanical properties are also assessed along with the water absorption (sorptivity). The results indicate that adding PF to the beams with NAC delays the formation of the first crack and improves the peak load, the ultimate load, and the ductility of the NAC beam. Additionally, the beams with PF exhibit lower mid-span deflection and ductile failure mode, improving the overall structural performance. Regarding drying shrinkage, the HVFASCC prisms record the lowest shrinkage strains of all mixes. Adding PF to NAC increases the initial and ultimate drying shrinkage strains. However, adding PF to NAC inhibits the rate of shrinkage strain over the test duration. This research enhances understanding of how PF affects no-aggregate concrete behavior, paving the way for more comprehensive construction materials.

ENHANCING CONCRETE FLEXURAL STRENGTH: REPLACING CEMENT WITH FLY ASH AND BRICK KILN DUST

Concrete is now an essential building material for creation of any type of structural elements, including inflexible pavement as well as beams, columns, slabs, bridges, and girders. Cement is the most essential binding component in the manufacture of concrete because, when combined with water, it can bind both Coarse Aggregate (CA) and Fine Aggregate (FEA). The terms (BKD and FA, which have certain binding qualities when mixed with water, are waste products, as indicated by the paper's title. The researcher's objective is to show how FA and BKD mixed in the percentages of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% are used to partially substitute Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) of 43 grade during the production of M25 grade of concrete mix design and to calculate the Flexural Strength in accordance with Indian Standards (IS). The outcome of this research analysis demonstrates that FA and BKD can be employed in the manufacturing of concrete with the objective of lowering both emissions of greenhouse gases and cement concrete production costs.

Reaction molecular dynamics study of calcium alumino-silicate hydrate gel in the hydration deposition process at the calcium silicate hydrate interface: The influence of Al/Si

Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) can partially replace cement in concrete production, forming calcium alumino-silicate hydrate (C-A-S-H). This enhances concrete durability while recycling waste. However, the early hydration reaction process of C-A-S-H and its deposition and aggregation behavior at the interface with the primary hydration product of cement, calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H), remain unknown. Therefore, this study utilizes reactive molecular dynamics to model the deposition and growth behaviors of C-A-S-H precursors with different Al/Si ratios on C–S–H, and discusses the effects of the Al/Si ratio on C-A-S-H gel aggregation behavior and structural evolution at the C–S–H interface. The results show that increasing Al content significantly promotes the early hydration reaction rate of C-A-S-H gel, the degree of polymerization of silicate chains, and the amount of Qn(n ≥ 2) species. Moreover, higher Al content leads to the precursors aggregating among themselves rather than depositing on the C–S–H substrate surface. The incorporation of Al–O polyhedra can effectively bridge silicate chains on the C–S–H surface and alter the growth patterns of hydration products from linear chains to three-dimensional networks. This work provides molecular-level insights into the influences of the Al/Si ratio on the early hydration reaction process and interfacial deposition behaviors of C-A-S-H gel.

Research and evaluate the potential of rice husk ash and rice straw ash for soil improvement in Vietnam

Rice husk ash and rice straw ash are common agricultural wastes in developing countries. Currently, utilizing these wastes in the construction sector such as soil improvement and cement concrete production is a trend in many areas around the world. In Vietnam, with a rice production of more than 40 million tons/year, millions of tons of rice husk ash and straw ash can be generated. This is an abundant and a cheap material source. This article will research and evaluate the potential of rice husk ash and straw ash for soft soil improvement in Vietnam. Research results show that straw ash and rice husk ash are materials having high pozzolan activity. Various studies in the world and some studies in Vietnam showed that rice husk ash and straw ash not only improve some physical and mechanical properties of soil but can also partially replace the amount of binder. Vietnam has different types of soft soil and construction activities are increasing, so the demand for improving soft soil is also increasing. In which, improving soil with cement binder is one of the most popular methods. Therefore, rice husk ash and rice straw ash have great potential to combine with cement in improving soft soil in Vietnam. Utilizing these wastes not only helps reduce the negative impact their causes on the environment but also helps improve construction quality and reduce construction costs.

Assessing the performance of metakaolin-enriched bio-mineralized concrete

This research paper delves into an innovative approach leveraging pozzolanic material, particularly Metakaolin (MK), as a sustainable substitute for cement in concrete production. The study explores the integration of MK at various ratios, examining its impact on the creation of eco-friendly bio-mineralized concrete. By assessing MK ratios up to 15% by weight of cement, this work identifies a threshold—10% MK—that significantly enhances concrete properties, notably reducing permeability by 23.63% at 28 days. Incorporating bacteria at a concentration of 10^5 cfu/ml further amplifies these benefits, showcasing a 19% increase in compressive strength and a remarkable 43.23% reduction in permeability through calcium carbonate deposition. This synergy between MK and bio-mineralization not only fortifies concrete but also curtails cement content while maintaining or even enhancing its durability and strength. The research underscores the potential of MK and bio-mineralization as game-changing, eco-conscious solutions for concrete manufacturing, advocating for their adoption in construction to mitigate cement's environmental impact and address waste disposal, ultimately fostering sustainable growth in the industry. The study's findings spotlight a paradigm shift toward integrating biological processes into construction engineering, paving the way for a greener, more resilient built environment.

Synergistic effects of supplementary cementitious materials and compressive strength prediction of concrete using machine learning algorithms with SHAP and PDP analyses

In order to reduce the CO2 associated with cement production, this study explored the potential of rice husk ash (RHA) and fly ash (FA) as supplementary cementitios materials for partially replacing cement in concrete production. The study aimed to analyze the synergistic effects of a cement-based mixture consisting of RHA and FA in different proportions on concrete's fresh, hardened, non-destructive and microscopic properties. In addition to the experimental work, this study successfully applied machine learning to predict the compressive strength of RHA-FA concrete using three types of algorithms: ANN (Analytical Neural Network), XGB (Extreme Gradient Boosting), and GBM (Gradient Boosting Model). A total of 138 data points were used for this prediction, and statistical and parametric analyses were performed to define the impact of input parameters on the outcome. Furthermore, both destructive and non-destructive tests were conducted on hardened concrete, including compressive strength, split tensile strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), and rebound hammer. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) was operated to analyze the microstructural characteristics of concrete. The compressive and split-tensile strength test results showed that the mixture with a higher percentage of fly ash and a lower percentage of rice husk ash achieved maximum strength. The X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis revealed that both ashes contained a significant amount of silica, which gave them excellent pozzolanic properties. After 28 days, both the UPV and the rebound hammer strength align with the destructive compressive strength results. The study also employed SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) and PDP (Partial Dependence Plot) analyses to identify the optimal range for each parameter's contribution to strength improvement. The machine learning models exhibited a strong correlation with the test results, achieving an R2 value of 0.84 for the XGBoost model.

One experimental research with cement substitution by fly ash

Compared to all other construction materials, concrete is by far the most utilized construction material worldwide today. Billions of tons of natural virgin materials have been mined and processed worldwide to produce concrete. Such industrial processes and facilities leave significant unfavourable ecological traces in nature. In addition, it is assumed that the concrete production industry together with the cement industry emits seven percent of the total CO2 emissions in the world. For every ton of cement produced, 0.9 ton of CO2 is released into the atmosphere. It is almost certain that there will be no reduction in concrete production in the world in the coming years, but the question arises as to how and in what way to reduce the use of cement in concrete production. One of the mineral additives to the binder is fly ash, which has pozzolanic properties and is produced as a by-product of thermal power plants and is available in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This research considers questions whether and to what extent it is possible to replace cement with fly ash and how this substitution affects the compressive strength of concrete using referenced concrete mix with local concrete ingredients.

Study On Effect Of Marble Powder And Waste Foundry Sand As Fine Aggregates On The Properties Of Metakaolin-Cement Concrete

To bring an challenging and acceptable change in construction industry, upcoming graduates have to be much aware of alternate materials to be used in conventional concrete with improved performances and this study can be an encouraging approach to them. Many research studies have investigated the possible use of industrial by-products such as fly ash from thermal power plants, red mud from aluminium manufacturing industry, copper slag from copper smelting industry, GGBS from steel industry, and waste foundry sand from metal casting industries in cement concrete production. Here, it is investigated on the possibility of utilizing two industrial by-products in the production of concrete for achieving sustainable development. Metakaolin is used for replacing a specific percentage of cement, and waste marble powder and waste foundry sand are used to replace different percentages of conventional fine aggregates (sand) for producing a sustainable concrete. It is observed from the results that properties of cement concrete are influenced by the percentage content of metakaolin, waste marble powder and waste foundry sand.

Experimental Investigation on the Utilization of Marble and Scoria Powder as Partial Replacement of Cement in Concrete Production

This paper explores how marble and scoria powder can be used as partial substitutes for ordinary Portland cement in creating C-25 concrete. Both materials contain over 50% of the major oxides found in cement, with marble high in CaO and scoria high in SiO2. Experimental investigations were conducted to study the chemical, physical, mechanical, and fresh properties of concrete containing marble and scoria powder. For the investigation, 13 different mixes, including the control mix, were used with a constant water–cement ratio of 0.5 and a slump range of 25–50 mm for concrete with a compressive strength (CS) of 25 MPa. Marble-to-scoria ratio of 2 : 1, 1 : 1, and 1 : 2 was used, and then the combined fraction of both marble waste and scoria in concrete was increased from 0% to 20% in 5% range. Including the control test specimens, a total of 117 (150 × 150 × 150 mm) concrete cubes for CS test, 39 (100 × 100 × 500 mm) concrete beam specimens for flexural strength test, 39 (100 × 200 mm) cylinder specimens for splitting tensile strength (STS) test and, 39 (100 × 100 × 100 mm) cube specimens for water absorption test were cast and tested at 3, 7, 28, and 56 days. The test results indicate that marble and volcanic scoria powders with marble-to-scoria ratio of 1 : 1 could replace cement up to 15% without compromising the CS and up to 10% without compromising the flexural and STS; also, the water absorption decreases up to 10% replacement; however, the workability of the fresh mix decreases as the combined replacement level of marble and scoria increases. Generally, a 10% replacement with marble-to-scoria ratio of 1 : 1 produces concrete with higher compressive, flexural, tensile strength, and water absorption manifestations when compared to conventional concrete.

Utilization of treated wastewater dry sludge for lightweight concrete and the use of treated waste water as a curing medium

The increasing generation of sludge from wastewater treatment plants and the growing concerns over sustainable waste management have led to a demand for innovative and eco-friendly approaches. This abstract presents a novel approach that addresses two significant environmental challenges: the utilization of dry sludge as a partial replacement for cement in concrete production and the use of wastewater as a curing medium for concrete. Concrete, being the most widely used construction material worldwide, has a significant environmental impact due to its extensive consumption of natural resources and high carbon emissions. To address these challenges, researchers have explored various sustainable alternatives, one of which is incorporating sludge, a byproduct of wastewater treatment plants, into concrete production. This abstract presents a comprehensive overview of the utilization of sludge as supplementary cementations material (SCM) in concrete, highlighting its potential benefits and challenges. Sludge, rich in organic and inorganic compounds, possesses properties that can enhance the performance of concrete. As a SCM, It can partially replace cement thereby reducing its demand and minimizing the carbon footprint associated with cement production. Additionally, sludge in corporation in concrete promotes waste management and offers a sustainable solution for the disposal of this abundant by product. The abstract examines the effects of sludge on various concrete properties, including workability, strength development, durability and environmental impacts. Studies have shown that sludge addition can enhance the workability of fresh concrete, leading to improved cohesiveness and reduced water demand. Furthermore, the pozzolanic and filler effects of sludge contribute to the strength development of hardened concrete, with potential improvements observed in both early age and long-term strengths. Moreover, the inclusion of sludge in concrete can enhance its durability performance, such as resistance to chloride ion penetration, sulfate attack and alkali-silica reaction. The abstract also discusses the potential environmental benefits, including reduced carbon emissions, energy saving and conservation of natural resources, resulting from sludge utilization in concrete production. Overall , in corporation sludge into concrete presents a promoting opportunity to enhance the sustainability of the construction industry; further research and development efforts are required to fully understand the long term performance and environmental implication of sludge-based concrete and to overcome the associated challenges. By embracing sludge as valuable resources, the construction sector can move towards a more circular economy and contribute to a greener and more sustainable future.

Impact of recycled coal bottom ash as mixing ingredient on fresh and mechanical properties of concrete: A review

The expanding use of concrete in the global construction sector requires the exploitation of more main ingredients from nature, such as limestone, stone, sand, and rocks, which leads to an additional degradation of the state of the environment. Recognizing that this approach has negative impacts on plants, animals, and humans, a technique to use industrial byproducts as partial substitutes for concrete mix ingredients would reduce consumption of key resources and make the environment more sustainable. As a result, the huge amounts of coal bottom ash (CBA) produced annually in thermal power plants and their improper management have led to major ecological problems, as the waste has negative effects on the environment and human welfare. This review summarizes the results to date on the use of CBA as an alternative to sand and cement in concrete production. This review also examines the effects of CBA on fresh concrete properties and the mechanical properties of concrete. This paper is intended to help newcomers understand the scope and development of the use of CBA as a mix ingredient in the production of concrete. Overall, the use of CBA in appropriate proportions can improve the fresh and mechanical properties of concrete at replacement ratio up to 30% in the mechanical properties. However, further research is needed to investigate the possibility of using CBA in large quantities to achieve high-performance and durable concrete. Therefore, the inclusion of CBA as a mix ingredient in concrete production is the most effective way to reduce dependence on key ingredients and potentially minimize the negative environmental impacts caused by landfills.

Influence of reclaimed asphalt pavement aggregate on the performance of metakaolin-based geopolymer concrete at ambient and elevated temperatures

Considering the environmental concerns surrounding conventional cement concrete production and the increasing demand for more sustainable and green materials, recent research considered utilization of recycled waste materials (e.g., aggregates from concrete construction and demolition, and reclaimed asphalt pavement) as full or partial substitutes for natural aggregates. Another direction of the research considered the production of more sustainable binders as an alternative to conventional cement (e.g., geopolymer or alkali-activated materials).To serve the objective of utilizing waste materials and reducing negative environmental impact associated with the use of cement concrete, the present study investigated the potential of producing metakaolin-based geopolymer concrete incorporating reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) aggregate. This research comprised experimental testing of five concrete mixes with 0%, 25%, 50% and 100% coarse RAP aggregate replacing the natural aggregate. Tests included compressive stress–strain behavior at ambient conditions (i.e., compressive strength, elastic modulus, strain at peak strength and toughness), and flexural strength. The performance after heat exposure to elevated temperatures of 300 °C and 600 °C was also tested. Proposed models for predicting the elastic modulus, strain at peak strength, flexural strength, and compressive stress–strain relationship matched the experimental results well. Results indicated that natural aggregate replacement by 25 % RAP aggregate caused a reduction in the compressive and flexural strengths by 42.8% and 26.2%, respectively. The increase in the RAP aggregate content enhanced the strain at peak strength e.g., the strain at peak strength was 42.9% higher than the control mix when 100% RAP aggregate was utilized.

Characterization of some clay deposits in southwest Nigeria for use as supplementary cementitious material in cement

Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) contribute to the properties of concrete through pozzolanic and hydraulic activities. Clay is an SCM used to replace part of clinker to reduce cost, CO2 emission, and make concrete durable. Nigeria has deposits of clay with pozzolanic potential when calcined and in finely divided form, thus, reducing the overdependence on Ordinary Portland Cement in concrete production. The chemical, mineral, morphology, calcination efficiency and physical properties were analyzed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTA), particle size distribution, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and specific surface area (SSA) by nitrogen adsorption methods. The Strength activity index (SAI) of calcined clay samples from Owode-Ketu (OK), Imotoyewa (IM), and Ifonyintedo (IF), in Ogun state-Nigeria were investigated. Compressive strength was determined by partially replacing cement in steps of 10 wt% from 0 − 40 wt% in a mortar test. Results revealed that IF clay has the highest plasticity with 52% of clay content, and the plasticity Index of 27%. Kaolinite was the dominant mineral with values greater than 35 wt% on the XRD trace, consistent with BET values above 31.22 m2/g. The oxides (SiO2 + AI2O3 + Fe2O3) satisfy the minimum requirement of “Class N pozzolan”. TGA/DTA established calcination temperatures of 600 °C, 650 °C, and 700 °C for IF, OK, and IM clays respectively at 2 h. These results agreed with FTIR data. The SAI of calcined clay (C-IF, C-OK, and C-IM) were 122%, 120.2%, and 118.8%, consistent with all the analytical results. Thus, these clays are useable in cementitious blends.

Effects on jute fiber and ferrochrome slag as coarse aggregate on mechanical properties of reinforced concrete

The present research work aims to produce by adding jute fiber (JF) with ferrochrome slag (FSA) as coarse aggregate. The experimental results of all the properties of jute fiber with ferrochrome slag (FSA) based concrete are compared to controlled concrete and efficient, technically acceptable and environmentally compatible construction material. From compressive strength, flexural strength and split tensile test results, it is observed that ferrochrome slag -based concrete samples' incorporation of jute fiber shows better performance than that of controlled concrete. Further, non -destructive tests and co-relation between compressive strength with split tensile strength and flexural strength are performed. This study focuses on the reuse of waste ferrochrome slag as a partial replacement for coarse aggregate in the production of cement concrete with improved mechanical properties and non-destructive tests. Ferrochrome slag was replaced by coarse aggregate with various percentages ranging from 0%, 50% and 100% by adding 0.10%, 0.20% and 0.30% JF (by weight). The workability test was performed to evaluate the concrete behaviour in a fresh state. The result shows that adding the percentages of jute fiber up to 0.10% shows 4.83%, 3.2% and 3.4% more compressive, split and flexural strength than the control concrete.

Sustainable use of silica fume in green cement concrete production: a review

Sustainable use of silica fume in green cement concrete production: a review

Study on the Phosphogypsum Proportion in Foamed Concrete Based on Concrete Strength and Carbon Emission

The production of concrete will produce a lot of carbon dioxide and pollute the environment. Phosphogypsum is a solid waste generated during wet phosphoric acid treatment, and the use of phosphogypsum blending instead of cement in concrete production can effectively reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Then, experiments were conducted for six concrete groups with different phosphogypsum content as 0%~50% to test the strength in 3 days, 7 days, and 28 days. The results show that as the curing day rise, the compressive strength of concrete increases, meanwhile, with the increment of phosphogypsum content, the 28-day strength decreases significantly. The analysis for the consideration of the balance in carbon emission and the strength evolved, and results could be concluded that although the decrement of 28-day strength as well as the carbon dioxide emissions with the increasing phosphogypsum content in concrete, different trends were found. As the strength and emissions vary, a suggested range of content for phosphogypsum in concrete can be found. Based on these results, the proportion of phosphogypsum in concrete is proposed to achieve the purpose of energy saving and emission reduction and improve the utilization rate of phosphogypsum.

Research on Pure Modes I and II and Mixed-Mode (I/II) Fracture Toughness of Geopolymer Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

The unsustainable use of resources and the rising demand for traditional concrete have disrupted ecological equilibrium, necessitating the adoption of a more appropriate and long-lasting alternative. One such substitute for cement in concrete production is geopolymer concrete, although this material is prone to cracking and fracturing due to its low tensile strength, leading to costly repairs or even structural collapse. Fiber-reinforced concrete has recently been widely adopted as a construction material to counteract these issues. This research examined the crack proliferation and fracture toughness of geopolymer concrete comprising different fibers using a cracked Brazilian disc. Four different fibers were used, such as polypropylene and steel fiber (short and long), at a dosage of 1.5% by volume. Fracture toughness was computed for various modes (I, II, and I/II) of fractures, and crack propagation from cracked specimens was studied. A different angle of inclination (0, 15, 28, 83, 60, 75, and 90 degrees) was used to conduct the Brazilian disc test on the specimens with respect to the preexisting crack direction. The findings indicate that the increasing loading angle increased the load-carrying capacity. The fracture toughness values of specimens under all three modes ranged from 0.26 to 1.75 MPa.m1/2. Additionally, long polypropylene and steel fibers exhibit higher fracture toughness than short fibers.

Potential Use of Scoria as a Cementitious Material for Green Concrete Production

The demand for cement, which is one of the key components of concrete, is high in Ethiopia, but it is the most expensive and environmentally unfriendly construction material. Due to the increasing concerns about the environment worldwide, researchers have started looking for other resources that can be used to reduce the pollution caused by the cement industry. One of the most effective ways to reduce the pollution caused by the cement industry is by using volcanic scoria powder as a partial replacement for cement in concrete production. Scoria is a locally available natural volcanic material in Ethiopia, especially around the rift valley regions. This natural resource can also be used to reduce energy consumption and the cost of production of cement. To investigate this study, nonprobability sampling techniques were adopted to collect samples from the study area. A differing proportion of scoria powder was considered as a partial replacement of cement after analyzing its characteristics, and its effect on the fresh and mechanical properties of hardened concrete was examined. The test results on the characteristics of scoria revealed that the material is suitable to be used as a supplementary cementitious material in concrete production; hence, its main constituents SiO2 + Al2O3 + Fe2O3 are higher than 70% as per ASTM C618. As the content of scoria powder replacement in cement is increased, it reduces the slump of freshly mixed concrete properties. The hardened concrete specimens made with 10%, 20%, and 30% partial replacement of cement with scoria achieved the specified minimum strength after 28 days of curing time. But concrete specimens made with 40% scoria content do not satisfy the minimum specified concrete strength even after 90 days. The significant strength achievement in scoria blended concrete specimens occurred when moving from 56 to 90 days of curing with 10% replacements. However, in reference specimens, this was observed during 28 days of curing times. The findings of this investigation revealed that scoria powder could replace cement by 30% for the production of normal concrete and it also has the potential to protect the environment from carbon dioxide emissions. These findings satisfy the basic strategy of green concrete production in worldwide.

Utilization of Magnesium-Rich Synthetic Gypsum as Partial Replacement Material in Concrete

The high demand of concrete has increased the rate of the ecosystem as well as increase the carbon emissions of the cement industry. The rapid growth of construction puts a severe strain on our natural resources and endangers the environment. Therefore, there is a pressing need for a green alternative that will protect the environment and preserve resources. Hence, this study is carried out to reduce the usage of cement in concrete production. The new replacement technique utilized the magnesium-rich synthetic gypsum (MRSG) and silica fume (SF). The MRSG and SF will be used as partial replacement of cement in the range of 5% to 30% with a water to cement ratio of 0.55. These mixtures were formed into cube specimens of 100 x 100 x 100 mm size. Then, the compressive strength was conducted to determine the strength of the specimens. The results indicated that 10% cement replacement from 5% of MRSG residue and 5% of SF gives an optimum strength compared to the control specimen with 24.6 MPa and 25.8 MPa, respectively. In addition, the increased percentage of MRSG residue, increased the water absorption of the mix. The replacement of MRSG residue in concrete would not only provide economic relief but also help to create a sustainable and pollution-free environment as the disposing of this waste creates many inconveniences to the living organism.

Experimental Research on the Wear Behavior of Materials Used in the Manufacture of Components for Cement Concrete Mixers

Mixers used in the production of cement concrete operate under special conditions such as mechanical stresses, abrasive-erosive friction phenomena, and corrosive working environments. In this paper, the authors aimed to establish a correlation between the chemical composition of mixer blade materials and their wear behavior. Three types of alloyed (chromium) cast iron were used for an experimental program that included three sets of tests in accelerated wear conditions which replicated the actual working environment (mixture of mineral aggregate, sand, cement, and water). The tribological tests were carried out using a Baroid tribometer. The results indicated that regardless of the test environment, cast iron with the highest chromium content exhibited the best wear resistance. However, it cannot be concluded that the wear resistance of the studied cast iron materials increases as a direct result of an increase in chromium content. For a chromium content of less than 25%, a better tribological behavior was observed for cast iron with a lower chromium content (of about 4%) than for cast irons with a higher chromium content (of about 9%).