• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.443-450
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• 2015

This paper presents an investigation of the mechanical and microstructural properties of Class F fly ash based geopolymer containing sodium sulfate as an additive. Sodium sulfate was used as an chemical additive at the dosage levels of 0, 2, 4, and 6wt% of fly ash. Sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate solutions were used to activate fly ash. The compressive strengths of geopolymer pastes were measured at the age of 28 days. The microstructures of the geopolymer pastes were examined using XRD, MIP and SEM tests. The additions of 2wt% and 4wt% sodium sulfate produced geopolymers with high strength, while increasing the dosage of levels to 6% resulted in almost no changes in strength, comparing with the control geopolymer. The optimum increase in strength was obtained with the addition of 4wt% sodium sulfate. As the amount of sodium sulfate is increased, no additional crystalline phase was detected and no change of amorphous phase indicated despite the change in the strength development. The increase in the strength was due to the change of pore size distribution in samples. As addition of sodium sulfate altered the morphologies of reactive productions and Si/Al ratios of the reaction products, the strengths were thus affected. It was found that the strengths of geopolymer were larger for lower Si/Al ratios of reaction products formed in samples. The optimal amount of sodium sulfate in the fly ash based geopolymer helps to improve mechanical properties of the geopolymer, on the other hand, the high percentage of sodium sulfate could exist as an impurity in the geopolymer and hinder the geopolymer reaction.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.494-498
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• 2012

Geopolymer cements and geopolymer resins are newly advanced mineral binders that are used in order to reduce the carbon dioxide generation that accompanies cement production. The effect of additives on the compressive strength of geopolymerized class-F fly ash was investigated. Blast furnace slag, calcium hydroxide($Ca(OH)_2$), and silica fume powders were added to fly ash. A geopolymeric reaction was initiated by adding a solution of water glass and sodium hydroxide(NaOH) to the powder mixtures. The compressive strength of pure fly ash cured at room temperature for 28 days was found to be as low as 291 $kgf/cm^{-2}$, which was not a suitable value for use in engineering materials. On the contrary, addition of 20 wt% and 40 wt% of blast furnace slag powders to fly ash increased the compressive strength to 458 $kgf/cm^{-2}$ and 750 $kgf/cm^{-2}$, respectively. 5 wt% addition of $Ca(OH)_2$ increased the compressive strength up to 640 $kgf/cm^{-2}$; further addition of $Ca(OH)_2$ further increased the compressive strength. When 2 wt% of silica fume was added, the compressive strength increased to 577 $kgf/cm^{-2}$; the maximum strength was obtained at 6 wt% addition of silica fume. It was confirmed that the addition of CaO and $SiO_2$ to the fly ash powders was effective at increasing the compressive strength of geopolymerized fly ash.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2017

This paper describes laboratory tests carried out to evaluate the influence of class F fly ash (FA) on fracture toughness of plain concretes, specified at the third model fracture. Composites with the additives of: 0%, 20% and 30% siliceous FA were analysed. Fracture toughness tests were performed on axial torsional machine MTS 809 Axial/Torsional Test System, using the cylindrical specimens with dimensions of 150/300 mm, having an initial circumferential notch made in the half-height of cylinders. The studies examined effect of FA additive on the critical stress intensity factor $K_{IIIc}$. In order to determine the fracture toughness $K_{IIIc}$ a special device was manufactured.The analysis of the results revealed that a 20% FA additive causes increase in $K_{IIIc}$, while a 30% FA additive causes decrease in fracture toughness. Furthermore, it was observed that the results obtained during fracture toughness tests are convergent with the values of the compression strength tests.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2021

This study aims to develop non-sintered cement that can replace the Portland cement by utilizing industrial by-products. As a suggestion, the physical properties of non-sintered cement mortar depending on the curing method were investigated with ground granulated blast furnace slag, class C fly ash, and class F fly ash. As a result of the study, it was found that the strength performance and absorption rate were improved through the heat treatment process after steam curing. It was confirmed through crystal phase analysis that the hydration was accelerated after heat treatment, and the bonding material formed a dense internal structure.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.113-124
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• 2016

This paper presents the effect of silica fume and nano silica, used individually and in combination with the set accelerator and/or hydrated lime, on the properties of class F high volume ultra fine fly ash (HV-UFFA) cement composites, replacing 80 % of cement (OPC). Compressive strength test along with thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were undertaken to study the effect of various elements on the physico-chemical behaviour of the blended composites. The results show that silica fume when used in combination with the set accelerator and hydrated lime in HV-UFFA cement mortar, improves its 7 and 28 day strength by 273 and 413 %, respectively, compared to the binary blended cement fly ash mortar. On the contrary, when nano silica is used in combination with set accelerator and hydrated lime in HV-UFFA cement mortar, the disjoining pressure in conjunction with the self-desiccation effect induces high early age micro cracking, resulting in hindering the development of compressive strength. However, when nano silica is used without the additives, it improves the 7 and 28 day strengths of HV-UFFA cement mortar by 918 and 567 %, respectively and the compressive strengths are comparable to that of OPC.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.335-346
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• 2022

Geopolymers are an important alternative material supporting recycling, sustainability, and waste management. Durability properties are among the most critical parameters to be investigated; in this study, the durability of manufactured geopolymer samples under the attack of 10% magnesium sulfate and 10% sodium sulfate solution was investigated. 180 cycles of freezing and thawing were also tested. The experimentally obtained results investigate the durability of geopolymer mortar prepared with fly ash (class F) and alkali activator. Three different quarry dust wastes replaced the river sand aggregate: limestone, marble, and basalt powder as fine filler aggregate in three different replacement ratios of 25%, 50%, and 75% to produce ten series of geopolymer composites. The geopolymer samples' visual appearance, weight changes, UPV, and strength properties were studied for up to 12 months at different time intervals of exposure to sulfate solutions to investigate sulfate resistance. In addition, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), EDS, and XRD were used to study the microstructure of the samples. It was beneficial to include quarry waste as a filler aggregate in durability and mechanical properties. The compact matrix was demonstrated by microstructural analysis of the manufactured specimens. The geopolymer mortars immersed in sodium sulfate showed less strength reduction and deterioration than magnesium sulfate, indicating that magnesium sulfate is more aggressive than sodium sulfate. Therefore, it is concluded that using waste dust interrogation with partial replacement of river sand with fly ash-based geopolymers has satisfactory results in terms of durability properties of freeze-thaw and sulfate resistance.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2022

The experimental investigations into hooked-end round steel fibers (HSF) effect on the age-dependent strengths of high volume fly ash (HVFA) concrete is studied. The concrete was prepared with class F fly ash used as partial cement replacement varied from 0% to 70% on an equal weight basis. Two percentages of HSF (i.e., 0.5% and 1.5% by volume fraction) of 50 mm length were added in plain, and 50% fly ash concrete mixes. The compressive and flexural tensile strength was determined at 7, 28, 56, and 90 days. The strength results of fly ash concrete mixes with and without steel fibers were compared with the plain concrete strength. The test results indicated that the strength of fly ash concrete is comparable with the plain concrete strength and further increases with an increase in the percentage of steel fibers. The maximum flexure strength of HVFA concrete is found with 0.5% steel fibers. It is concluded that the HVFA concrete with steel fibers of 50 mm length can effectively be used in concrete construction. The analytical models are proposed to predict the age-dependent compressive and flexural tensile strength of HVFA concrete with and without HSF. The compressive and tensile strength of HVFA concrete with HSF can be predicted using these models when the 28-day compressive strength of plain concrete is known. The present study will be helpful in the design and construction of reinforced and pre-stressed concrete structures made with HVFA and HSF.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.547-556
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• 2011

The primary factors affecting concrete sulfate resistance are the chemical composition of the Portland cement, and the chemistry and quantity of mineral admixtures. To investigate the effect of those on the sulfate attack, the testing program involved several different mortar mixes using the standardized test, ASTM C1012. Four different cements were evaluated, including one Type I cement, two Type I-II cements, and one Type V cement. Mortar mixes were also made with mineral admixtures, as each cement was combined with three different types of mineral admixtures. One Class F fly ash, one Class C fly ash, and one ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) were added in various percent volumetric replacement levels. Expansion measurements were taken and investigated with the expansion criteria recommended by ASTM.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1999.03a
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• pp.489-496
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• 1999

The objective of this study is to present engineering properties required in use of co-mixtures of fly ash and WFS(Waste Foundry Sand)'s, which are Presently used as fill or (lovable backfill. The fly ash, generated at the Tae-An thermoelectric power plant was used in this research and was classified as Class F. Green Sand, Furane Sand, and Coated Sand, which had been used at a foundry located in Pusan, were used. Laboratory experiments were peformed to obtain the physical properties of the co-mixture of fly ash and WFS. The range of permeability for all the co-mixtures was from 3.0×10/sup -3/㎝/s to 6.0×10/sup -5/㎝/s. The unconfined strength of the 7-day cured specimens composed of Green Sand reached 94% of that of 28-day cured specimens but for the 7-day cured specimens composed of, respectively, Furnace Sand and Coated Sand, only 64% and 66% of the strength of the 28-day cured specimens were reached. Results of the consolidated-untrained triaxial test showed that the specimens composed of Furnace Sand showed a distinct increase of the internal friction angle, while the other specimens showed negligible increase. In the case of 28-day cured specimens, specimens composed of Furnace Sand showed an internal friction angle of 41.8°, while specimens of Green and Coated Sand showed those of 33.5° and 35.0°, respectively. From the shrinkage test, the shrinkage ratios of all specimens did not exceed 0.25%.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.284-291
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• 2016

To evaluate the properties of inorganic composites using a great quantity of high-calcium fly ash generated in combined heat and power plants, high-calcium fly ash and F-class fly ash commonly used as concrete admixtures were substituted with binding materials to examine changes of fluidity and compressive strength depending on the substitution ratio for each curing temperature. According to the experimental result, CFA-mixed mortar showed a tendency to reduce its flow unlike FFA-mixed mortar as the substitution ratio was increased, but its flow loss showed smaller than FFA as time passed. As a result of examining compressive strength depending on mixing FA, FFA-mixed mortar had an optimum range within 50% when curing at ambient temperature, but it was found that the compressive strength is reduced when mixing CFA. When curing at high temperature, FFA did not relatively have a great effect on the substitution ratio, but CFA could expect a strength enhancement effect compared with 100% of OPC when using within 25% of binding materials.