Optimum Use of Sugar Cane Straw Ash in Alkali-Activated Binders Based on Blast Furnace Slag
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 30, Issue 6
Abstract
Alkali-activated binders (AABs) are a material obtained from the combination of a solid precursor and an alkaline activating solution. In this study, one solid precursor used was blast-furnace slag (BFS) and the other was an agro waste: sugar cane straw ash (SCSA). Sodium hydroxide was used for preparing activating solutions. In order to reach the potential reactivity of the SCSA, a study varying the BFS/SCSA mass ratio and molar ratio was carried out. The BFS/SCSA ratio varied from to , and was studied in the range of 11.1–18.5. To fulfill this objective, specimens were assessed by their compressive strength of mortars and microstructural studies of pastes [X-ray diffraction (XRD); thermogravimetric analysis (TGA); Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR); and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM)] in the curing time range of 3–90 days at 25°C. Results from these tests showed that the best BFS/SCSA and ratios were and 18.5, respectively. This study revealed an interesting valorization of the SCSA as a complementary precursor in BFS-based AABs because of the improvement of mechanical properties and the reduction in the consumption of BFS in AAB.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank CNPq processo n° 401724/2013-1, CNPq processo n° 140779/2015-0, and the “Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte” of Spain (“Cooperación Interuniversitaria” program with Brazil PHB-2011-0016-PC). Thanks are also given to the Electron Microscopy Service of the Universitat Politècnica de València.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 30 • Issue 6 • June 2018
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©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 21, 2017
Accepted: Oct 31, 2017
Published online: Mar 20, 2018
Published in print: Jun 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Aug 20, 2018
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