Abstract
In this study, an eco-olivine nanosilica is produced from natural olivine, and then used as an alternative silicate source in synthesizing the silicate-based alkali activator. The effects of silicate origin and dosage on activator characteristics, fresh behaviors, gel structure, strength, porosity, and shrinkage are investigated. The results indicate that the soluble silica content in the alternative activators is above 98%; compared with the traditional waterglass-based mixes, the nanosilica-derived ones exhibit similar behaviors in the early age reaction, gel structure, and mechanical properties. As some important engineering properties, nanosilica-based mixtures also exhibit increased workability, prolonged setting time, slightly increased porosity, and shrinkage. Thus, by using this alternative silica source in alkali-activated materials, a more sustainable product with less cost and carbon emission can be achieved, and with comparable key performances.
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Acknowledgments
This research was supported by China Scholarship Council and the Department of the Built Environment at Eindhoven University of Technology. The authors gratefully thank Mr. P. de Vries (ENCI B.V., the Netherlands) for the materials supply. Furthermore, the authors wish to express their gratitude to the following sponsors of the Building Materials research group at TU Eindhoven: Rijkswaterstaat Grote Projecten en Onderhoud; Graniet-Import Benelux; Kijlstra Betonmortel; Struyk Verwo; Attero; Enci; Rijkswaterstaat Zee en Delta-District Noord; Van Gansewinkel Minerals; BTE; V.d. Bosch Beton; Selor; GMB; CRH Europe Sustainable Concrete Centre; Cement & Beton Centrum; Heros; Inashco; Keim; Sirius International and Boskalis (in chronological order of joining).
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 30 • Issue 3 • March 2018
Copyright
©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 28, 2016
Accepted: Aug 23, 2017
Published online: Jan 9, 2018
Published in print: Mar 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Jun 9, 2018
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