• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2020.11a
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• pp.77-78
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• 2020

An alkaline activator was synthesized by dissolving waste glass powder (WGP) in NaOH-4M solution to explore its effects on the Class-C fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) based alkali-activated material (AAM). The compressive strength and porosity were measured, and (SEM-EDX) were used to study the hydration mechanism and microstructure. Results indicated that the composition of alkali solutions was significant in enhancing the properties of the obtained AAM. As the amount of dissolved WGP increased in alkaline solution, the silicon concentration increased, causing the accelerated reactivity of FA/GGBS to develop Ca-based hydrate gel as the main reaction product in the system, thereby increasing the strength. Further increase in WGP dissolution led to strength loss, which were believed to be due to the excessive water demand of FA/GGBS composites to achieve optimum mixing consistency. Increasing the GGBS proportion in a composite also appeared to improve the strength which contributed to develop C-S-H-type hydration.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.56-63
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• 2020

The usage of OPC-free alkali activated ground granulated blast furnace slag(GGBS) mortar has been widely studied on the previous years, due to its advantages on sustainability, durability and workability. This paper brings a new view, aiming to classify the best application in situ for each mortar, according to the type and activator content. By this practical implication, more efficiency is achieved on the construction site and consequently less waste of materials. In order to compare the different activators, the following experiments were performed: analysis of compressive strength at 28 days, setting time measured by needles penetration resistance, analysis of total pore volume performed by MIP and permeability assessment by RCPT test. In general, activated GGBS had acceptable performance in all cases compared to OPC, and remarkable improved durability. Following the experimental results, it was confirmed that each activator and different concentrations impose distinct outcome performance to the mortar which allows the classification. It was observed that the activator Ca(OH)2 is the most versatile among the others, even though it has limited compressive strength, being suitable for laying mortar, coating/plaster, adhesive and grouting mortar. Samples activated with NaOH, in turn, presented in general the most similar results compared to OPC.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.37-44
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• 2010

This study examined the practical application of ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) based alkali-activated (AA) binders for the development of cementless environmental-friendly secondary products of concrete, such as brick, shore protection blocks and interlocking blocks. The addition amount and type of alkaline ion to activate GGBS varied according to the diverse qualities of the secondary products of concrete required in Korean industrial standards (KS) and other specifications. Test results showed that the secondary products of concrete using GGBS-based AA binders surpassed the demanded capacities of KS and other specifications. In addition, shore protection block had a pH value close to neutral, enabling an advantageous environment for marine life. Therefore, the GGBS-based AA binders can be effectively applied to develop eco-friendly secondary products of concrete with reduced $CO_2$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2021.11a
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• pp.21-22
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• 2021

This study incorporates fine waste glass (GS) as a replacement for natural sand (NS) in ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) based alkali activated mortar (AAm). Tests were conducted on the AAm to determine the mechanical properties, apparent porosity and the durability based on its resistance to Na2SO4 5% and H2SO4 2% concentrated solutions. The study revealed that increasing GS up to 100 wt%, increased strength and decreased porosity. The lower porosity attained with the incorporation of GS, improved the resistance of mortar to Na2SO4 and thus increasing durability. However, the durability of mortar to H2SO4 solution was negatively impacted with the further reduction of porosity observed with increasing GS above 50 wt.% believed to be caused by the stress induced as a result of expansive reaction products created when the mortar reacted with acid.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.1005-1008
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to estimate basic mechanical properties of alkali-activated concretes based on GGBS(Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag). In this study, various mix ratios of alkali activated concretes based on sodium silicate and GGBS were set to evaluate concrete's compressive strengths and strains on the basis of results of existing alkali-activated cements and preliminary concrete tests, which were already performed by authors [Ref. 1]. Compressive strengths of concretes of ages 1, 3, 7, 28, 56 and 91 days were tested and investigated, respectively, and at early ages (< 7days) alkali-activated slag concrete (AASC) showed a high strength development, compared to that of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). A compressive strengths of AASC at age-3days range between 18 and 24 MPa, while those of OPC range 12 and 15 MPa. The stress-strain curve after maximum stress, on the other hand, is approximately reached at a compressive strain between 0.002 and 0.0025, which mechanical property is very similar to that of OPC.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.21-27
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• 2022

Recently, numerous studies are being performed to examine alkali-activated cement which uses industrial by-products, such as GGBS and fly ash, as well as alkali activators. Alkali-activated cement is a type of binder that exerts the same strength as cement without using cement by mixing industrial by-products with alkali activators. Alkali activators, which are used mainly for carbon-reducing technologies and alkali activation, are expensive and difficult to apply in the field due to risks related to strong alkalinity. Therefore, this study intends to explore methods to use red mud as a substitute for an alkali activator. To that end, this study has evaluated engineering properties, such as flow and strength, of CLSM that uses red mud and paper sludge ash as binders and its possibility to cause soil pollution. This study also aims to present the appropriate mixing ratios of red mud and paper sludge ash to produce CLSM.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2019

Use of cement in stabilizing the sulfate-bearing clay soils forms ettringite/ thaumasite in the presence of moisture leads to excessive swelling and causes damages to structures built on them. The development and use of non-traditional stabilisers such as alkali activated ground granulated blast-furnace slag (AGGBS) and enzyme for soil stabilisation is recommended because of its lower cost and the non detrimental effects on the environment. The objective of the study is to investigate the effectiveness of AGGBS and enzyme on improving the volume change properties of sulfate bearing soil as compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The soil for present study has been collected from Tilda, Chhattisgarh, India and 5000 ppm of sodium sulfate has been added. Various dosages of the selected stabilizers have been used and the effect on plasticity index, differential swell index and swelling pressure has been evaluated. XRD, SEM and EDX were also done on the untreated and treated soil for identifying the mineralogical and microstructural changes. The tests results show that the AGGBS and enzyme treated soil reduces swelling and plasticity characteristics whereas OPC treated soil shows an increase in swelling behaviour. It is observed that the swell pressure of the OPC-treated sulfate bearing soil became 1.5 times higher than that of the OPC treated non-sulfate soil.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.1630-1636
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• 2009

Nine alkali-activated (AA) mortars were mixed and cured at water or air-dried conditions to explore the significance and limitation for the application of the combination of Ba and Ca ions as an alkali-activator. Ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) was used for source materials, and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) and barium hydroxide (Ba(OH)₂) were employed as alkali activators. Test results clearly showed that the water curing condition was more effective than the air-dried curing condition for the formation of the denser calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gels that had a higher molar Si/Ca ratio, resulting in a higher strength development. At the same time, the introduction of Ba(OH)₂ led to the formation of 2CaO·Al₂O₃·SiO₂·8H₂O (C₂ASH₈) hydrates with higher molar Si/Al and Ca/Al ratios. Based on the test results, it can be concluded that the developed cementless mortars have highly effective performance and high potential as an eco-friendly sustainable building material.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2012

Strength model for blasted furnace slag mortar blended with sodium was investigated in this study. The main parameters of AAS (alkali activated slag) mortar were dosage of alkali activator, water to binder ratio (W/B), and aggregate to binder ratio (A/B). For evaluating the property related to the dosage of alkali activator, sodium carbonate ($Na_2CO_3$) of 4~8% was added to 4% dosage of sodium hydroxide (NaOH). W/B and A/B was varied 0.45~0.60 and 2.05~2.85, respectively. An alkali quality coefficient combining the amounts of main compositions of source materials and sodium oxide ($Na_2O$) in sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate is proposed to assess the compressive strength of alkali activated mortars. Test results clearly showed that the compressive strength development of alkali-activated mortars were significantly dependent on the proposed alkali quality coefficient. Compressive strength development of AAS mortars were also estimated using the formula specified in the previous study, which was calibrated using the collected database. Predictions from the simplified equations showed good agreements with the test results.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.159-167
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• 2022

The present study assessed the micro structure and durability characteristics of ternary blended cement with different types of alkali activators. Ground granulated blast furnace slag(GGBS) and ferronickel slag(FNS) was replaced until 50 % of the weight of cement. In addition, potassuim hydroxide and sodium hydroxide were used for comparing the properties of different type of alkali activator. Ternary blended cement with alkali activators showed higher peak portlandite peak than that of OPC(Ordinary Portlande Cement) and non activated ternary blended cement. Also, there was no new hydration products in ternary blended cement or/and alkali activators. Based on the mercury intrustion porosimetry(MIP) test result, ternary blended cement increased macro pore while alkali activated ternary blended cement modified pore structure and increased microp pore as compared to OPC as control. Combination with alkali activators is desirable to enhance the compressive strength and freeze thaw resistance.