• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.289-299
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• 2014

Alkali-activated slag concretes are being extensively researched because of its potential sustainability-related benefits. For such concretes to be implemented in large scale concrete applications such as infrastructural and building elements, it is essential to understand its early and long-term performance characteristics vis-a'-vis conventional ordinary portland cement (OPC) based concretes. This paper presents a comprehensive study of the property and performance features including early-age isothermal calorimetric response, compressive strength development with time, microstructural features such as the pore volume and representative pore size, and accelerated chloride transport resistance of OPC and alkali-activated binder systems. Slag mixtures activated using sodium silicate solution ($SiO_2$-to-$Na_2O$ ratio or $M_s$ of 1-2) to provide a total alkalinity of 0.05 ($Na_2O$-to-binder ratio) are compared with OPC mixtures with and without partial cement replacement with Class F fly ash (20 % by mass) or silica fume (6 % by mass). Major similarities are noted between these binder systems for: (1) calorimetric response with respect to the presence of features even though the locations and peaks vary based on $M_s$, (2) compressive strength and its development, (3) total porosity and pore size, and (4) rapid chloride permeability and non-steady state migration coefficients. Moreover, electrical impedance based circuit models are used to bring out the microstructural features (resistance of the connected pores, and capacitances of the solid phase and pore-solid interface) that are similar in conventional OPC and alkali-activated slag concretes. This study thus demonstrates that performance-equivalent alkali-activated slag systems that are more sustainable from energy and environmental standpoints can be proportioned.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2008

A new cementitious material has been developed, called alkali-activated fly ash cement(AAFC), which is used to produce AAFC-concrete for construction. The effect of acid attack, sodium chloride solution, carbonation, freeze-thaw cycling, and SEM, XRD analysis of the AAFC-concrete prepared using alkali-activated fly ash cement and OPC-concrete were experimentally investigated. It was found that the acid resistance of AAFC-concrete(35 MPa) prepared from alkali-activated fly ash at 85$^{\circ}C$ for 24 hrs is far better than OPC-concrete(35 MPa). Also, the AAFC-concrete(35 MPa) had a similar resistance of OPC-concrete(35 MPa) to attack, such as sodium chloride solution, carbonation and freeze-thaw cycling.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.40-47
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• 2011

In this study, we investigated the strength, shrinkage and durability of alkali-activated mortar using blast furnace slag only, and admixed with blast-furnace slag and fly ash as cementious materials in oder to develop cementless alkali-activated concrete. In order to compare with the alkali-activated mortar, the normal mortar using ordinary portland cement was also test. In view of the results, we found out that strength development, the resistance to shrinkage and freezing-thawing of the cementless alkali-activated mortar have better than the mortar using ordinary portland cement. Especially, using the combined with blast furnace slag and fly ash develop high strength of above 60 MPa, reduce shrinkage of about 40% and improve freezing-thawing durability of approximately 20%, but promote the velocity of carbonation of 2~3 times.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.789-792
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to investigation the fundamental properties of alkali activated slag of type and concentration of alkali activator. In this paper sodium silicate, sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide were used as alkaline activator and their concentration were 1, 3, 5 and 7 $Na_2O$ weight percent. The physical properties of alkali activated blast furnace slag cement mortar (AAS) were investigated by flow test and compressive strength. And the hydration properties of AAS characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. Result show that Alkali activated slag mortar strengths were continuously increased with adding amount and ages. C-S-H were formed to be the main products up to 28days of hydration.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2011

Portland cement production is under critical review due to high amount of $CO_2$ gas released to the atmosphere. Attempts to increase the utilization of a by-products such as fly ash and ground granulated blast-furnace slag to partially replace the cement in concrete are gathering momentum. But most of by-products is currently dumped in landfills, thus creating a threat to the environment. Many researches on alkali-activated concrete that does not need the presence of cement as a binder have been carried out recently. In this study, we investigated the influence of alkali activator and superplasticizer on the flowability and compressive strength of the alkali-activated mortar in oder to develop cementless alkali-activated concrete using blast furnace slag. In view of the results, we found out that the type and mixture ratio of alkali activator, the type and adding order of superplasticizer results to be significant factors. When cementless alkali-activated mortar using blast furnace slag manufactured with 1:1 the mass ratio of 9M NaOH and sodium silicate, and added superplasticizer before alkali activator in the mixer, we can be secured workability with 180 mm of flow during 1 hours and compressive strength of about 50 MPa under $20^{\circ}C$ curing condition at age of 28days.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2018.05a
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• pp.240-241
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• 2018

In this paper, we tried to find the proper ratio of industrial byproducts which can express mechanical characteristics similar to ordinary portland cement by varying the ratio of industrial byproducts. as a result, the activated slag binder produced by the industrial byproduct in this study increased in compressive strength as the ratio of blast furnace slag increased and the fly ash ratio decreased.

• Journal of The Korean Digital Architecture Interior Association
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.59-66
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• 2012

This study is interested in identifying the effectiveness of alkali-activated fire protection material compounds including the alkali-activator such as potassium hydroxide, sodium silicate and fly ash as the fire resistant finishing materials. Also, this paper is concerned with change in compressive strength and pore structure of the alkali-activated fire protection material at high temperatures. The testing methods of fire protection materials in high temperature properties are make use of TG-DSC and mercury intrusion porosimetry measurements. This study results show that compressive strength is rapidly degraded depending on a rise of heating temperature. Porosity showed a tendency to increase irrespective of specimen types. This is due to both the outbreak of collapse of gel comprising the cement and a micro crack by heating. However, alkali-activated fire protection material composed of potassium hydroxide, sodium silicate and fly ash has the thermal stability of the slight decrease of compressive strength and porosity at high temperature. These thermal stability is caused by the ceramic binding capacity induced by alkali activation reaction by the reason of the thermal analysis result not showing the decomposition of calcium hydrate.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.104-112
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• 2012

This study involves investigating the correlation between variation of internal structure and heating temperature of alkali-activated fire protection materials using fly ash. Dehydration and micro crack thermal expansion occur in cement hydrates of cementitious materials heated by fire. Internal structure difference due to both the dehydration of cement hydrates and pore solution causes and influences changes in the properties of materials. Also, this study is concerned with change in microstructure and dehydration of the alkali-activated fire protection materials at high temperatures. The testing methods of alkali-activated fire protection materials in high temperature properties are make use of TG-DSC and mercury intrusion porosimetry measurements. The study results show that the alkali-activated fire resistant finishing material composed of potassium hydroxide, sodium silicate and fly ash has the high temperature thermal stability. These thermal stability is caused by the ceramic binding capacity induced by alkali activation reaction.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.75 no.1
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• pp.123-131
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• 2020

The bond performance of glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars and that of steel bars embedded in Alkali Activated Cement (AAC) concrete are analysed and compared using pull-out specimens. The bond failure modes, the average bond strength and the free end bond stress-slip curves are used for comparison. Tepfers' concrete ring model is used to further analyse the splitting failure in ribbed steel bar and GFRP bar specimens. The angle the bond forces make with the bar axis was calculated and used for comparing bond behaviour of ribbed steel bar and GFRP bars in AAC concrete. The results showed that bond failure mode plays a significant role in the comparison of the average bond stress of the specimens at failure. In case of pull-out failure mode, specimens with ribbed steel bars showed a higher bond strength while specimens with GFRP bars showed a higher bond stress in case of splitting failure mode. Comparison of the bond stress-slip curves of ribbed steel bars and GFRP bars depicted that the constant bond stress region at the peak is much smaller in case of GFRP bars than ribbed steel bars indicating a basic bond mechanism difference in GFRP and ribbed steel bars.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.267-275
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• 2018

This study is to investigate the effect of various temperature and humidity conditions on the strength and efflorescence of alkali activated slag cement(AAS) using the red mud. As a result of examining the strength and efflorescence characteristics of AAS mixed with red mud according to the curing conditions, The compressive strength and flexural strength were the highest at 28 days, but the absorption rate, efflorescence area and soluble $Na^+$ elution were lowest in standard wet curing compared to the air curing, high temperature curing and low temperature curing.