Mechanical and Microstructural Properties of Cemented Paste Backfill with Chloride-Free Antifreeze Additives in Subzero Environments
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 35, Issue 6
Abstract
Cement paste backfill (CPB) is an innovative technology of recycling mine waste (tailings) into construction materials to increase mine safety and productivity and promote sustainable mining. However, the application of CPB technology in mines located in cold or permafrost areas has been difficult due to freezing temperatures. These subzero temperatures can cause fresh CPB to freeze while being transported through the pipelines, which has significant financial implications for the mine. To overcome these problems, antifreeze additives are added to the CPB during its mixing or preparation to enhance the rheological properties of fresh CPB. The addition of antifreeze additives in CPB is an inexpensive and easy-to-operate method currently known to ensure its smooth delivery in subzero environments. But the mechanical and microstructural characteristics of CPB with chloride-free antifreeze additives in subzero conditions are not well understood. Therefore, this study experimentally examined the mechanical (strength, deformation behavior) and microstructural properties of CPB containing chloride-free antifreeze additives and cured under subzero conditions. Three kinds of chloride-free antifreeze (calcium nitrate, calcium nitrite, and urea) with different concentrations (0, 5, 15, and ) were separately added to the CPB samples curing at different subzero environments (, , and ) for different ages (7, 28, 60, and 90 days). The uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) tests, a series of microstructural (XRD, MIP, DT/DTG, SEM) analyses and monitoring (suction, volumetric water content) experiments of CPB were performed. The obtained results showed that the addition of antifreeze weakened the mechanical properties of CPB. Furthermore, the UCS of CPB was significantly affected by the antifreeze type, antifreeze concentration and subzero curing temperature. The findings in this research will support the successful application of antifreeze cemented backfill technology in cold regions.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), China Scholarship Council and University of Ottawa.
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Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 35 • Issue 6 • June 2023
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© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: May 20, 2022
Accepted: Oct 20, 2022
Published online: Apr 3, 2023
Published in print: Jun 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Sep 3, 2023
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