Resistance Of Alkali-activated Slag Research Articles

Effect of metakaolin on the chloride diffusion properties of alkali-activated slag in an acidic environment

Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) have good resistance to chemical corrosion compared to silicate cements, but the effect of the pH of chloride-containing solutions on the resistance of AAMs to chloride diffusion is not clear. In this paper, the resistance of alkali-activated slag (AAS) with different metakaolin replacement rate to chloride diffusion in HCl/NaCl solution was investigated in terms of mechanical properties, hydration product composition and pore structure. The experimental results show that acidic solutions lead to alkali leaching, and dissolution of gel and hydrotalcite. The capillary pores that appeared in the AAS after the replacement rate of 10% metakaolin resulted in a decrease in the average pore size of the AAS and low depth of chloride diffusion. 30% metakaolin replacement led to a decrease in the diffusion resistance. In HCl solution, the high [AlO4]5− retention corroded layer was observed in the AAS with 30% metakaolin replacement and this layer slowed down the migration rate of [Cl−]. This study shows the promising application of alkali-activated slag/metakaolin in complex chloride solution environments.

Effect of Dolomite Filler on the Sulfuric Acid Resistance of Alkali-Activated Slag Binders

In this work, the influence of a dolomite filler, in combination with pulverized fly ash, on the sulfuric acid (H2SO4) resistance of alkali-activated slag (AAS) is studied. The evolution of compressive strength and mass loss, as well as mineralogical, compositional, and molecular structural alteration of hardened AAS binders containing 0%, 20%, and 40% dolomite filler, or a combination of 20% dolomite and 20% fly ash, exposed to 0% (deionized water), 1%, 2.5%, and 5% H2SO4 solutions, are investigated. The results show that the dolomite and fly ash incorporation in AAS pastes exacerbates the alkalis leaching and alkalinity loss and tends to enhance the strength loss in the H2SO4 solutions, likely due to a coarsened pore structure and, thus, enlarged permeability. Under the H2SO4 attack, AAS is decomposed into gypsum, glauberite, and amorphous calcium-magnesium aluminosilicate hydrates, with little thaumasite, ettringite, or magnesium-bearing mineral formations. While decalcification and the silica polymerization of gel products take place in AAS upon an acid attack, it has strong dealumination resistance. In low and intermediate acid concentrations, the dolomite incorporation reduces the amount of gypsum and glauberite formed in AAS due to the dilution effect, while in strong acid media, dolomite dissolution occurs and contributes to the deleterious sulfate minerals formation.

Resistance of alkali-activated slag to sulphate attack and elevated temperatures

Resistance of alkali-activated slag to sulphate attack and elevated temperatures