Ternary Binder Research Articles

Enhancing the Strength Properties of High-Performance Concrete Using Ternary Blended Cement: OPC, Nano-Silica, Bagasse Ash

This study determined the strength properties of high-performance concrete (HPC) produced using ternary blended cement, based on Nano-silica (NS) and bagasse ash (BA) addition to Portland cement. Several mix proportions, based on random mix design, were considered based on the substitution of constituent materials. Fine aggregate was comprised of 60% river sand and 40% recycled aggregate (RA), coarse aggregate used was crushed rock for the development of M50, M60 and M70 grades of concrete. The replacement of cement by BA causes slowdown initial strength development, but increased the setting time of concrete. In order to improve the performance of HPC at early stage, NS was considered as third admixture for developing ternary binder blend in the concrete. The effect of NS and BA on fresh and hardened HPC were investigated and presented. The results indicated that the incorporation of NS reduced setting time and increased the early age strength development significantly. Thus, it was concluded that the addition of NS with mean particle size of 12 nm is suitable as an additional binder for improving the early age performance of HPC.

Flow behavior, microstructure, strength and shrinkage properties of self-compacting concrete incorporating recycled fine aggregate

The present research investigates the behavior of flowable concrete by reusing the construction and demolition (C&D) waste to replace natural resources. It gives an insight into the feasibility and effectiveness of developing an eco-friendly self-compacting concrete (SCC) using recycled fine aggregate (RFA) with maximum cement replacement. This study aims at evaluating the flow behavior, mechanical strength, shrinkage characteristics and the microstructure of SCC ascertaining the synergistic effect of RFA with the binary or ternary blend binder as a partial substitution of cement. From performance point of view, it is observed that the presence of RFA enhances the flowability, but certainly affects the other flow attributes to a certain extent with time at a higher replacement level. The interaction between RFA particles and the fluid media to maintain the flowability and to achieve the functional requirements of SCC have also been explored. It is found that the desired flow could be achieved for all the SCC mixes based on three independent variables (water absorption kinetics, SP and VMA dosage) by maintaining the powder content constant. The target strength is achieved for all the mixes except the mix with 40% fly ash and 100% RFA. This study reveals that the stability of the resulting SCC made with RFA can be acquired by properly designing the fluid media, considering the material properties. However, the complete replacement of natural fine aggregate with RFA has significantly influenced the performances of SCC and so with binary blend binder.

Influence of styrene-acrylic copolymer latex on the mechanical properties and microstructure of Portland cement/Calcium aluminate cement/Gypsum cementitious mortar

The effects of styrene-acrylic copolymer latex (SA) on a ternary binder system (TBS) mortar based on Portland cement/Calcium aluminate cement/Gypsum were studied by means of mechanical properties, tensile bond strength and water absorption. The results demonstrated that the flexural strength and tensile bond strength of TBS mortar can be improved due to the addition of SA polymer. Besides, SA polymer could improve the flexibility and decrease the water absorption of TBS mortar. The reasons behind the results are that hydration of TBS can be promoted with the presence of SA polymer, and the formation of polymer film make the cement matrix denser. SEM and EDS prove that SA polymer film adhering the hydration products bridges the crystals and fills the pores.

Characterization and performance of high volume recycled waste glass and ground granulated blast furnace slag or fly ash blended mortars

The application of recycled waste glass powder in high volume (60%) of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) or fly ash blended cement binder is shown in this study. The hydration kinetics, hydration products of different binder systems were studied by calorimetric and X-ray diffraction test. To investigate the microstructure properties of bended binders modified by glass powder, the mercury intrusion porosimetry test and scanning electron microscopy were conducted. The resistance to chloride penetration was evaluated by the rapid chloride migration test. The incorporation of recycled waste glass in slag or fly ash blended cement improves the reaction intensity while decreases the duration of induction period. The calcium hydroxide content of blended samples (91 days) was decreased after the incorporation of waste glass powder, while a densification effect on the capillary pores (10–100 nm) and lowers the total porosity of waste glass containing ternary binders were observed. From the SEM analysis, a dense microstructure and inter transition zone can be found in recycled waste glass blended samples. The waste glass powder modified slag or fly ash blended mortars exhibit a significant enhancement of resistance to chloride migration. Furthermore, a synergistic effect on the mechanical performance of large volume GGBS blended mortars containing recycled waste glass was identified, which presented the highest compressive strength among all waste blended samples.

Behaviour of calcined gypsum-based materials during setting

The behaviour at early age of several composed gypsum-based materials was investigated. The binary binder, composed of calcium sulphate hemihydrate and slaked lime, several ternary binders with different types of pozzolans were prepared, and their behaviour during setting was studied. Unrestrained volume changes of calcium sulphate-based pasts were measured by displacement of liquid, in which the specimens were submerged. The hydration heat of composed binders was measured by isothermal calorimetry. The behaviour of composed materials with different types of pozzolans was compared with the behaviour of calcined gypsum.

Performance of ternary gypsum-based mortars in wet environment

Gypsum is one of the most environmentally friendly materials, but it could be used only in the dry environment. When gypsum is wet, its mechanical properties worsen substantially and namely its strength decreases significantly. Ternary gypsum-based binders, composed from gypsum, lime and pozzolan evince better resistance against the moisture, because water-resistant phases are created as products of pozzolanic reaction. The behaviour and properties of several gypsum composites with different types of pozzolans, exposed to the moisture, were investigated. Samples of ternary composites were stored in the water for 360 days and their properties were tested during the period and compared with the properties of gypsum mortar. While gypsum mortar degraded significantly, the ternary mortars retained its properties and the strength of some of them even increased.

Effect of SBS molecular structure on the rheological properties of ternary nanomodified bituminous binders

The work presented in this paper focused on the rheological properties of ternary composites for paving applications constituted by bitumen, nano-sized additives and polymer modifiers. Non-functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes and two types of styrene-butadienestyrene polymers, linear and radial, were used to modify a reference neat bitumen with the specific goal of highlighting the effects of polymer structure on the final properties of composites. Binary blends containing a single additive were also investigated for comparative purposes. Materials were characterized by means of dynamic mechanical analysis and their internal structure was assessed with fluorescence microscopy observations. Experimental outcomes indicated that polymer architecture played a crucial role in promoting effective interactions between modifiers and carbon nanotubes. Specifically, in the presence of linear styrene-butadienestyrene, carbon nanotubes acted as compatibility activators, leading to the formation of stable and continuous ternary systems. On the contrary, in the case of radial styrene-butadienestyrene, beneficial effects provided by nano-modification were jeopardized by the increased thermodynamic instability which resulted from the combined use of these two components.

Influence of the Amount of Ammonium Salts in Fly Ash on Concrete with Ternary Binders

The requirements for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions have led power and heating plants to installing reduction technologies such as the selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR). The paper deals with the influence of the amount of ammonium salts in fly ash from power plants where SNCR method is used on the properties of mortars with ternary binders. Portland cement is the main component of this ternary binder system. As other components, fly ash and lime or finely ground recycled concrete dust were used. The synergic effect of all three components helps us to get a higher initial strength. This is caused by the presence of calcium carbonate and aluminate ions in the system. The chemical and physical-mechanical properties of fly ash are presented; especially, the amount of ammonium salts in accordance with ČSN ISO 7150-1 and the specific surface area. On mortars, the activity index of compressive strength and workability was examined.

The setting behavior, mechanical properties and drying shrinkage of ternary blended concrete containing granite quarry dust and processed steel slag aggregate

Abstract The manufacturing of concrete composites have released high volume of carbon dioxide (CO2) gaseous to the environment in the world. Therefore, finding an alternative materials to replace the raw material used in the production of concrete composites have become a current agenda. The industrial waste materials mainly from local coal-fuelled power plant, granite quarrying process, and iron and steel manufacturing industry were utilized in the high-performance concrete production. The waste materials incorporated included ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), pulverized fly ash (PFA), granite quarry dust (GQD) and electric arc furnace slag (EAFS) were used to partially or completely replace the usage of a synthetic and natural constituent materials in the concrete production which included ordinary Portland cement (OPC), natural river sand (NRS), and natural granite rock (NGR). The study was aimed to establish the feasibility of using EAFS as partial or complete replacement of NGR as the coarse aggregate of concrete with other industrial waste materials in the binder and fine aggregate phase. In addition, the method of optimization on the OPC-GGBS-PFA as a ternary blended binder system was also established. Meanwhile, the optimum combination of chemical admixture dosage was also determined in this study. The concrete composition with the established optimum ternary blended binder system, chemical admixture combination and NRS-GQD composition as a fine aggregate were examined with various NGR replacement level with EAFS ranging from 0% to 100% at the increment of 20%. The properties of the concrete mixes were examined by setting time test on the fresh concrete, mechanical strength tests and drying shrinkage assessment on the hardened concrete. The results showed that the inclusion of the aforementioned waste tends to improve the mechanical strength properties of the concrete, while, reducing the magnitude of length change in terms of drying shrinkage. With such, a concrete with compressive strength of 80 MPa able to be produced with the used of waste material from the industry up to 80% of the total volume.

Study on the Coupled Effects of Bentonite and High-Volume Fly Ash on Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC)

With the advantage of superior crack width control ability, stress transmission capacity and energy dissipation capacity, engineered cementitious composites (ECC) show ultra-high strain hardening characteristic, and its ultimate tensile strain can reach 3% to 7%, which is hundreds of times that of the normal concrete when cracking occurs. As a new kind of building material, ECC need to get more sustainable through adding vicinal materials. In the present research, we investigate the influence of ternary binder system of bentonite, fly ash (FA) and cement (C) on the mechanical behaviours and microstructures of ECC. The ratio of FA/ C were 1.2, 1.8, 2.4 and the amount of bentonite by mass of ternary binder system were 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% in each FA/C ratio, respectively. The flexural strength, flexural deflection capacity and compressive strength were tested at 14, 28 and 90 curing time. The results show that ECC with combined supplementary cementitious materials have the behavior of strain hardening. Moreover, it was found that higher FA/C ratio and higher bentonite content can improve the flexural deflection capacity. In addition, there is a decrease in flexural strength and compressive strength with the increase in FA/C ratio and bentonite content. Furthermore, it could be seen that fly ash and bentonite are beneficial to the long-term strength development of ECC.

Effect of Utilization of Different Type of Mineral Admixture On Fresh And Hardened Properties of Cementitious Systems

In this study, the effect of mineral admixture utilization on fresh and some hardened state properties of cement paste and mortar mixtures were investigated. For this purpose, in addition to the control mixture containing no mineral admixture, three more series of mixtures were prepared. In the first and second mixtures 30% and 10 w.t% of cement was replaced with silica fume and fly ash respectively. In the third series, cement was replaced with both of silica fume and fly ash by 30% and 10%, respectively. According to test results, fresh state properties of paste mixtures were affected by mineral admixture use positively in general. However, a reverse result was observed for the fresh state properties of mortar mixtures. Compressive strength values of the mixtures including fly ash as well as the ones including silica fume and fly ash was found to be less than that of control mixture. Nevertheless, the difference between those values reduced at the end of 90 days. Mixture including silica fume showed the highest strength value from the beginning. 90-day water absorption values of the mortar mixtures were observed to be less compared to that of control mixtures with the use of mineral admixture. The mixture having ternary binder system (including cement, silica fume and fly ash) showed better performance in terms of hardened properties. The water absorption capacity value of mentioned mixture was observed as 42% less than that of control mixture.

Utilization of crumb rubber and FBC-based ternary binder in shotcrete lining

This paper describes the early-age properties of shotcrete modified by i) up to 12.5% by volume crumb rubber as a replacement for aggregates and ii) substitution of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) by a fluidized bed combustion-based ternary binder (FBC-TB) up to 80% of mass. For the tests conducted, an increase in the crumb rubber volumetric fraction of the mixture always led to a decrease in uniaxial compressive strength. Replacing OPC with FBC-TB up to 20% enhanced the development of the early-age compressive strengths; however, a larger substitution resulted in the reduction in the concrete’s final compressive strength. In a full-size experimental mock-up test, the highest-performing mixture—in terms of acceptable mechanical properties and a reasonable amount of reused by-products—was subjected to full deployment in a concrete batching plant. Two batches (6 m3 in total) of concrete with crumb rubber and FBC-TB replacement were sprayed onto a full-scale model of a tunnel for the mock-up test. Evaluation of shotcrete performance included an analysis of the development of compressive strength and a comparison of results with criteria from the relevant code of practice, the New Austrian Tunnelling Method. Based on laboratory experiments, optimization, and in-situ measurements, the mock-up tests proved shotcrete containing crumb rubber and FBC-TC is applicable for full-scale use.

Ternary Blended Binder for Production of a Novel Type of Lightweight Repair Mortar.

The goal of the paper was development and testing of a novel type of ternary blended binder based on lime hydrate, metakaolin, and biomass ash that was studied as a binding material for production of lightweight mortar for renovation purposes. The biomass ash used as one of binder components was coming from wood chips ash combustion in a biomass heating plant. The raw ash was mechanically activated by grinding. In mortar composition, wood chips ash and metakaolin were used as partial substitutes of lime hydrate. Silica sand of particle size fraction 0–2 mm was mixed from three normalized sand fractions. For the evaluation of the effect of biomass ash and metakaolin incorporation in mortar mix on material properties, reference lime mortar was tested as well. Among the basic physical characterization of biomass ash, metakaolin and lime hydrate, specific density, specific surface, and particle size distribution were assessed. Their chemical composition was measured by X-Ray fluorescence analysis (XRF), morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elements mapping was performed using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analyser, and mineralogical composition was tested using X-Ray diffraction (XRD). For the developed mortars, set of structural, mechanical, hygric, and thermal properties was assessed. The mortars with ternary blended binder exhibited improved mechanical resistance, lower thermal conductivity, and increased water vapor permeability compared to the reference lime mortar. Based on good functional performance of the produced mortar, the tested biomass ash could potentially represent a novel sustainable alternative to other pozzolans commonly used in construction industry. Moreover, reuse of biomass ash in production of building materials is highly beneficial both from the environmental and economic reasons especially taking into account circular economy principles. The ternary blended binder examined in this paper can find use in both rendering and walling repair mortars meeting the requirements of culture heritage authorities and technical standards.

Development of engineering and transport properties of green high strength concrete utilizing ternary blended binders

This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and advantages of utilizing ternary blended binders consisting of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), Densified Silica Fume (DSF), and Ultrafine Palm Oil Fuel Ash (UPOFA) on the engineering and transport properties of Green High Strength Concrete (GHSC). A variable proportion of silica fume (5, 10, 15, and 20%) and up to 50% of UPOFA was incorporated as a partial replacement material from the total volume of cement binder into the GHSC. For fresh concrete, the results showed that the DSF inclusion increases water demand and reduces GHSC workability. Whereas for harden concrete, a considerable improvement in early strength and transport properties of GHSC with ternary binder inclusion. The highest relative strength was achieved at the early age of 1 day, which was up to 139.7% at 15%DSF content in (OPC-UPOFA-DSF15) GHSC. Meanwhile, the greatest improvement in the transport properties; water absorption, porosity, permeability and rapid chloride permeability of the GHSC was realized with 20% of DSF at 28 days in (OPC-UPOFA-DSF20) GHSC. Thus, in current study the results indicate that the combination of up to 65% (UPOFA and DSF) as a substitution binder with cement could produce GHSC with superior engineering and transport properties.

Durability properties of multiple-blended binder concretes incorporating thermally activated alum sludge ash

Binary and ternary blended binder (BBB and TBB, respectively) concretes are prepared by incorporating thermally activated alum sludge ash (AASA), silica fume (SF), ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and palm oil fuel ash (POFA) as partial cement replacement. Concrete mixtures were prepared with a water/binder ratio and total binder content of 0.30 and 493 kg/m3, respectively. The evaluated durability performances of the multiple blended binder concretes included water absorption, porosity, initial surface absorption, sorptivity and sulfate and chloride resistance (immersed in 5% sodium sulfate (Na2SO4), 5% sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions and water for 90 and 180 days). The results indicated that the BBB with 15% AASA cement replacement demonstrated superior durability performance compared with the control and 20% AASA concretes. A higher replacement level of 20% AASA did not improve inner core durability but improved surface durability characteristics. All TBB concretes performed better than the BBB concretes with AASA at the same replacement levels.

Corrosion behavior of duplex stainless steel reinforcement in ternary binder concrete exposed to natural chloride penetration

The corrosion behavior duplex stainless steel rebars embedded in concrete exposed to natural chloride penetration has been carried out. Three duplex stainless steels (DSSs) differentiated in the Ni, Mo and Mn content and two types of concretes elaborated with different binders, Portland cement and Portland cement blended with Slag and Limestone, were employed. The corrosion behavior was followed through Ecorr and Rp measurements along the exposure period. The tests were extended up to corrosion detection or to 2 years, and the chloride contents accumulated at the rebar level were determined.The DSS with lower Ni content has demonstrated to show lower corrosion resistance in presence of chlorides and pitting corrosion at lower chloride contents accumulated at the rebar level were detected. The DSSs embedded in OPC concrete resist better to corrosion in presence of chlorides than those rebars embedded in concrete containing blast furnace slag and limestone.

The synergistic effect of AFt enhancement and expansion in Portland cement-aluminate cement-FGD gypsum composite cementitious system

In this research, the synergistic effect of AFt enhancement and expansion in Portland cement-aluminate cement-FGD gypsum ternary binder was systematically analyzed. The following conclusions can be drawn from the interaction of AFt formation rate, compressive strength and free swelling rate. In appropriate proportion, the strength of the ternary composite binders was significantly improved compared with the reference sample. The highest strength of ternary binder which was composed of 90% Portland cement and 10% mixed binder of FGD gypsum and aluminate cement reached 117% of the reference sample at 3d and 107% at 60d. The highest strength of ternary binder composed of 80% Portland cement and 20% mixed binder of FGD gypsum and aluminate cement reached 136% of the reference sample at 3d and 110% at 60d. Most of the free swelling ratios of the ternary binder were lower than 0.6% except high-substitution samples such as cracking samples of ternary binder composed of 70% Portland cement and 30% mixed binder of FGD gypsum and aluminate cement. Similar to hardened Portland cement, hydration products such as AFt, C-A-H, Ca(OH)2 and C-S-H gel existed in the ternary composite binder. The AFt contents of the ternary composite binder increased with the increase of substitution amount of FGD gypsum and aluminate cement. When the mass ratio of aluminate cement to FGD gypsum was higher than 4:1, the formation of AFt in the ternary binder with free expansion ratio less than 0.6% reached the highest at around 7d, which hence results in the highest mechanical strength. Bycontrast, when the mass ratio of aluminate cement to FGD gypsum was lower than 4:1, the formation of AFt in the ternary binder reached the highest at around 28d. The delayed formation of massive AFt has been found responsible for the deleterious expansion.

Feasibility of Eco-Friendly Binary and Ternary Blended Binders Made of Fly-Ash and Oil-Refinery Spent Catalyst in Ready-Mixed Concrete Production

Large-scale recycling of new industrial wastes or by-products in concrete has become a crucial issue for construction materials sustainability, with impact in the three pillars (environmental, social and economic), while still maintaining satisfactory, or improved, concrete performance. The main goal of the paper is to evaluate the technological feasibility of the partial, or total, replacement of fly-ashes (FA), widely used in ready-mixed concrete production, with spent equilibrium catalyst (ECat) from the oil-refinery industry. Three different concrete mixtures with binary binder blends of FA (33.3% by mass, used as reference) and of ECat (16.7% and 33.3%), as well as a concrete mixture with a ternary binder blend with FA and ECat (16.7%, of each) were tested regarding their mechanical properties and durability. Generically, in comparison with commercial concrete (i) 16.7% ECat binary blended concrete revealed improved mechanical strength and durability; (ii): ternary FA-ECat blended binder concrete presented similar properties; and (iii) 33% ECat binary blended concrete has a lower performance. The engineering performance of all ECat concretes meet both the international standards and the reference durability indicators available in the scientific literature. Thus, ECat can be a constant supply for ready-mixed eco-concretes production, promoting synergetic waste recycling across industries.

Unified modelling of the temperature effect on the autogenous deformations of cement-based materials

Temperature effects are of primary importance for designing concrete structures. Some of the early age temperature effects on the concrete behaviour can be accurately taken into consideration by well-known maturity functions. However, the effect of temperature on the autogenous deformations development is more complex, and results in contradictory evidence. This paper studies the influence of various isothermal curing temperatures from 10 °C to 30 °C on the autogenous deformations of concrete. Binary and ternary binders containing up to 30% of limestone filler and 70% of blast-furnace slag are studied. The amplitude of both the self-desiccation deformation and the early age swelling deformation are observed to decrease with increasing temperature, whatever the binder nature. Mechanisms for this observation are suggested, and a corresponding model is developed. The effect of the binder nature, age and temperature on the autogenous deformations is assessed with this model. Based on this new model, it is shown that the effect of temperature on the autogenous deformation development can be either beneficial or detrimental, depending on the nature of the binder.

The role of seawater in interaction of slag and silica fume with cement in low water-to-binder ratio pastes at the early age of hydration

Very low water-to-binder ratio of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) may facilitate using seawater as the mixing water, as there may not be sufficient moisture and air in its dense matrix to initiate the corrosion of steel reinforcements. However, extensive research is needed to investigate the effects of intermixed chloride from seawater on fresh and hardened properties UHPC. This study investigated the role of seawater in the interaction of slag and silica fume with cement in very low water-to-binder paste of UHPC at early ages of hydration. The results showed that seawater increased the reactivity of slag and enhanced its interaction with cement due to triggered reactions between seawater components and rich Al-phases in cement and slag. On the contrary, seawater decreased the interaction of silica fume with cement. The overall influence of seawater in the low water-to-binder paste enhanced the hydration kinetics of binary and ternary binders and restrained the autogenous shrinkage. Furthermore, the early age compressive strength was increased. The findings of the study showed that using seawater was in favor of early age properties of paste with very low water-to-binder ratio.