Some durability properties of alkali activated materials (AAM) produced with ceramic powder and micro calcite

Abstract

This study aims to produce alkali-activated materials (AAM) under different curing conditions using a ceramic powder (CP) instead of a blast furnace slag (BFS) and a micro calcite (McK) instead of a calcareous aggregate. The water/binder (W/B) ratios of the AAMs range from 0.30 - 0.42 and the sodium silicate (SS) ratios range from 15 - 60 %. They were subjected to curing process in 80°C water and in an oven, in the air, and with a chemical curing method. Consequently, it was observed that an increase in the ratios of SS and W/B and using 25 % McK with a spherical structure, increased the workability. An increase in the CP and McK usage ratios reduced the 28-day compressive strengths. Using the CP while designing the AAMs, which were exposed to sodium sulfate and sulfuric acid, reduced the losses in strength. Also, an increase in the CP ratio has a positive influence on the AAM as it increases the high-temperature endurance of the mortars. For conventional concrete, permeability in freeze-thaw resistance is an important factor for AAMs. Hence, using McK in AAMs increases the freeze-thaw resistance. Consequently, it was observed that using a CP up to 40 % influences the AAM positively.