• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.745-752
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• 2012

This paper studies the effect of the compressive strength for combined alkali-activated slag mortars. The effect of activators such as alkali type and dosage factor on the strength was investigated. The alkalis combinations made using five caustic alkalis (sodium hydroxide (NaOH, A series), calcium hydroxide ($Ca(OH)_2$, B series), magnesium hydroxide ($Mg(OH)_2$, C series), aluminum hydroxide ($Al(OH)_3$, D series), and potassium hydroxide (KOH, E series)) with sodium carbonate ($Na_2CO_3$) were evaluated. The mixtures were combined in different dosage at 1M, 2M, and 3M. The study results showed that the compressive strength of combined alkali-activated slag mortars tended to increase with increasing sodium carbonate. The strength of combined alkali-activated slag mortars was better than that of control cases (without sodium carbonate). The result from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed that there were reaction products of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) and alumina-silicate gels from combined alkali-activated slag specimens.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.765-772
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• 2011

The present study summarizes a series of compressive tests on concrete cylinder in order to examine the stressstrain relationship of alkali-activated (AA) slag concrete. The compressive strength and unit weight of concrete tested ranged from 8.6 MPa to 42.2 MPa and from $2,186kg/m^3$ to $2,343kg/m^3$, respectively. A mathematical equation representing the complete stress-strain curve was developed based on test results recorded from 34 concrete specimens. The modulus of elasticity, strain at peak stress, slopes of ascending and descending branches of stress-strain curves were generalized as a function of compressive strength and unit weight of concrete. The mean and standard deviation of the coefficient of variance between measured and predicted curves were 6.9% and 2.6%, respectively. This indicates that the stress-strain relationship of AA slag concrete is represented properly with more accuracy in the proposed model than in some other available models for ordinary portland cement (OPC) concrete.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.9-16
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• 2009

Further treatment facility using various filter materials was evaluated to treat effluent of constructed wetland. Further treatment facility was installed with 1m length in outlet of 3 constructed wetland (unplanted constructed; reed bed constructed wetland; cattail bed constructed wetland) using 3 filter materials (slag, activated carbon, oyster shell). Flow rate of three further treatment facility was 63 $m^3$/day (slag), 19 $m^3$/day (activated carbon), and 81 $m^3$/day (Oyster shell). COD removal rate of slag, activated carbon, and oyster shell was 6 %, 24 %, 1 %, and removal mass was 32 g/day, 30 g/day, and 5 g/day, respectively. All of further treatment facility was effective to removal organic materials. T-N and T-P removal rate of activated carbon was 24 % and 4 %, and slag and oyster shell was not effective to remove T-N and T-P. Overall, further treatment facility was effective to remove organic mater, constructed wetland combined with further treatment facility can remove nutrient and organic matters effectively.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.177-184
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• 2015

In order to use the high-volume slag cement as a construction materials, a proper activator which can improve the latent hydraulic reactivity is required. The dissolved aluminum silicon ions from ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) react with sulfate ions to form ettringite. The proper formation of ettringite can increase the early-age strength of high-volume GGBFS (80%) cement. The aim of this study is to investigate the hydration properties with sulfate activators (sodium sulfate, anhydrite). In this paper, the effects of $Na_2SO_4$ and $CaSO_4$ on setting, compressive strength, hydration, micro-structure were investigated in high-volume GGBFS cement and compared with those of without activator. Test results indicate that equivalent $SO_3$ content of 3~5% improve the early-age hydration properties such as compressive strength, heat evolution rate, micro-pore structure in high-volume GGBFS cement.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.45-56
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• 2013

In this study, a blast furnace slag with latent hydraulic property is used to cement granular soils without using Portland cement. When the blast furnace slag reacts with an alkaline activator, it can cement soils. The effect of amounts of blast furnace slag and types of alkaline activator on soil strength was investigated for resource recycling. Four different amounts of slag and six different activators (two naturals and four chemicals) were used for preparing specimens. The specimens were air-cured for 3 or 7 days and then tested for unconfined compressive strength (UCS). The UCS of cemented sand with slag increased, in the order of specimens mixed with potassium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. Chemical alkaline activator was better than natural alkaline activator. The maximum UCS of 3-days cured specimens was 3 MPa for 16% of slag with potassium hydroxide, which corresponded to 37% of one with 16% of high-early strength portland cement. As the amount of slag increased, the UCS and dry density of a specimen increased for all alkaline activator cases. As the curing time increased from 3 days to 7 days, the UCS increased up to 97%. C-S-H hydrates were found in the cemented specimens from XRD analyses. Cement hydrates were more generated with increasing amount of slag and they surrounded sand particles, which resulted in higher density.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.38-47
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• 2018

Integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) is a next generation energy production technology that converts coal into syngas with enhanced power generation efficiency and environmental performance. IGCC produces almost coal gasification slag as the solid by-product. IGCC slag is generated about 140,000 tons for a year although recycling of it is still in the early stages. We evaluated the potential of IGCC slag which is generated from a pilot plant in South Korea as an alkali-activated cement. Samples which were activated with the combined activator of sodium silicate solution and caustic soda had an average compressive strength of 4.5 MPa, showing expansion. Expansion of the alkali-activated slag was presumed to be caused by free CaO in the slag, although it was not detected by the ethylene glycol method. Samples that were activated with the combined activator of sodium aluminate and caustic soda had an average compressive strength of 10 MPa. Hydroxy sodalite and $C_3AH_6$ were found to be the new crystalline phases. IGCC slag can be used as an alkali-activated material, but the strength performance should be improved with proper mix design approach to calculate optimum proportions which can alleviate the expansion issue at the same time.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.457-464
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• 2015

The alternative material for cement has been attracting attention in construction projects. Especially, the alkali activated slag(hereafter, AAS) concrete is able to use for a structural vertical member because of 40MPa of compressive strength, However, the research about time-dependent deformation such as creep which is important to strength member is insufficient. Therefore, in this study, experiments were performed with respect to time-dependent deformation including the drying shrinkage and creep deformation of AAS concrete. The creep deformed ratio of AAS concrete was more than OPC concrete by approximately 4.3% and the dry shrinkage deformation of AAS concrete was more than OPC concrete by approximately 69%. The large amount of sodium silicate, alkali activator, is added causing temperature crack than promoted drying and drying creep which is confirmed by water ration test and SEM.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.106-117
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• 2018

The present study was carried out to find a suitable drying method for the determination of non-evaporable water in hydraulic inorganic materials. In Part 1 of the paper, the case ordinary Portland cement was discussed and, in this Part 2, the case of alkali active slag (AAS) was investigated. Various drying methods including vacuum and oven drying, and an ignition, were used for the AAS system having different w/b, types and amounts of alkali activators. It was found that a combination of the vacuum and oven drying was a suitable drying method for the AAS case. Although a part of the crystallized water in hydration products was decomposed, but the free and adsorbed water could be completely evaporated and the deviation of the results was small.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2014

In this study, a blast furnace slag having latent hydraulic property with an alkaline activator for resource recycling was used to solidify sand without using cement. Existing chemical alkaline activators such as $Ca(OH)_2$ and NaOH were used for cementing soils. An alkaliphilic microorganism, which is active at higher than pH 10, is tested for a new alkaline activator. The alkaliphilic microorganism was added into sand with a blast furnace slag and a chemical alkaline activator. This is called the microorganism alkaline activator. Four different ratios of blast furnace slag (4, 8, 12, 16%) and two different chemical alkaline activators ($Ca(OH)_2$ and NaOH) were used for preparing cemented specimens with or without the alkaliphilic microorganism. The specimens were air-cured for 7 days and then tested for the experiment of unconfined compressive strength (UCS). Experimental results showed that as a blast furnace slag increased, the water content and dry density increased. The UCS of a specimen increased from 178 kPa to 2,435 kPa. The UCS of a specimen mixed with $Ca(OH)_2$ was 5-54% greater than that with NaOH. When the microorganism was added into the specimen, the UCS of a specimen with $Ca(OH)_2$ decreased by 11-60% but one with NaOH increased by 19-121%. The C-S-H hydrates were found in the cemented specimens, and their amounts increased as the amount of blast furnace slag increased through SEM analysis.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.170-178
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• 2015

In this study, it was developed eco-friendly alkali-activated slag fiber reinforced concrete using ground granulated blast furnace slag, alkali activator (water glass, sodium hydroxides), and steel fiber. Eight reinforced concrete beam using alkali-activated slag concrete were constructed and tested under monotonic loading. The major variables were mixture ratio of alkali activator, mixed/without of steel fiber. Experimental programs were carried out to improve and evaluate the flexural performance of such test specimens, such as the load-displacement, the failure mode, the maximum load carrying capacity, and ductility capacity. All the specimens were modeled in scale-down size. The reinforced concrete beams using the eco-friendly alkali-activated slag fiber reinforced concrete was failed by the flexure or flexure-shear in general. In addition, the maximum strength increased with the adding the mol of sodium hydroxide, and the specimen reinforced the steel fiber showed the value of maximum strength which is increased by 15.8% through 25.9%. It is thought that eco-friendly alkali-activated slag fiber reinforced concrete can be used with construction material and product to replace normal concrete. If there is applied to structures such as precast concrete member and production of 2nd concrete product, it could be improved the productivity and reduction of construction duration etc.