Microstructure of Carbonation-Activated Steel Slag Binder
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 30, Issue 9
Abstract
A steel slag material demonstrated rapid hardening and a considerable gain in compressive strength upon reacting with carbon dioxide. Two-hour carbonated paste compacts achieved an average compressive strength of 80 MPa, warranting the slag’s consideration as a cement-like binder for building applications. The microstructure of this -activated binder system was examined. The reaction was found to engage the di-calcium-silicate component of the slag to generate a hardened matrix consisting of and a low-lime calcium-silicate-hydrate (C─ S─ H) phase. The latter differed in composition and structure from C─ S─ H variants generated from normal portland cement hydration. Raman spectroscopy confirmed bands (330, 510–550, 600–630, and ) consistent with C─ S─ H species having low-lime compositions. High-resolution transmission electron microscope (TEM) resolved lamellar features for C─ S─ H with short basal spacings (averaging 0.73 nm), correlatively indicating superior interlayer cohesion. Moreover, abundant nano- crystals were found interlocked within the C─ S─ H phase, forming a dense nanoscale composite matrix. Such a proposed binder system is completely by-product-sourced, thus presenting the potential of eliminating or significantly reducing the carbon footprint of building products.
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Acknowledgments
The financial support by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada is gratefully acknowledged. The authors would also like to acknowledge Dr. Elitsa Hrischeva, Activation Laboratories Ltd., Ancaster, Ontario, for her assistance in performing the QXRD-Rietveld analysis.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 30 • Issue 9 • September 2018
Copyright
©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 27, 2017
Accepted: Mar 14, 2018
Published online: Jun 29, 2018
Published in print: Sep 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Nov 29, 2018
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