• 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.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2015

PURPOSES : This study set out to investigate the fundamental properties of alkali-activated concrete (AAC) using modified slag as the pavement maintenance material. METHODS: The material properties of modified slag based alkali-activated concrete (MSAAC) were analyzed and evaluated against those of alkali-activated slag concrete (AASC). Several mix formulations were considered, including one MSACC and four AASCs. The main variables considered in the study were slump, air content, compressive strength, rapid chloride permeability test, scaling resistance, freeze-thaw test, XRD, SEM, and EDS. RESULTS: MSAAC exhibits a compressive strength in excess of 21 MPa six hours after curing. Also, the charge passed of the MSACC was found to be less than 2000 coulombs after seven days and about 1000 coulombs after 28 days. The weight loss determined from a scaling test did not exceed $1kg/cm^2$ in the case of the MSACC, but that of the AASCs had already exceeded $1kg/cm^2$ at the 10th cycle. Based on the results of the freeze-thaw test, the relative dynamic modulus of every mix was found to be in excess of 90%. An energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS) analysis found that the weight rate percentage of the calcium and aluminum in the MSAAC mix is twice that of the AASC mixes. CONCLUSIONS : It was found that the MSAAC mix exhibits significantly better performance than AASC mixes, based on various fundamental properties.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.311-317
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• 2015

Cement zero concrete produced by alkali-activators and industrial by-products such as slag instead of cement, enables to solve the environmental pollution problems provoked by the exhaustion of natural resources and energy as well as the discharge of carbon dioxide. However, researches on the cement zero concrete are still limited to material studies and thus, study on the structural behavior of relevant members is essential to use the cement zero concrete as structural materials. This paper aims to evaluate experimentally and analytically the flexural behavior of RC beams using 50 MPa alkali activated slag concrete. To achieve such a goal, flexural tests on three types of RC beam specimens were conducted. A nonlinear analysis model is proposed using the modulus of elasticity and stress-strain relationship of alkali activated slag concrete. The analysis results obtained by the proposed model agree well with the experimental results, which could verify the validity of the proposed model.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.231-237
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• 2018

A strain-hardening highly ductile composite based on an alkali-activated slag binder and synthetic fibers is a promising construction material due to its excellent tensile behavior and owing to the ecofriendly characteristics of its binder. This study investigated the effect of different types of synthetic fibers and water-to-binder ratios on the compressive strength and tensile behavior of slag-based cementless composites. Alkali-activated slag was used as a binder and water-to-binder ratios of 0.35, 0.45, and 0.55 were considered. Three types of fibers, polypropylene fiber, polyethylene (PE) fiber, and polyparaphenylene-benzobisethiazole (PBO) fiber, were used as reinforcing fibers, and compression and uniaxial tension tests were performed. The test results showed that the PE fiber series composites exhibited superior tensile behavior in terms of the tensile strain capacity and crack patterns while PBO fiber series composites had high tensile strength levels and tight crack widths and spacing distances.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.125-131
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• 2011

Five all-lightweight alkali-activated (AA) slag concrete mixes were tested according to the variation of water content to examine the significance and limitation on the development of cementless structural concrete using lightweight aggregates. The compressive strength development rate and shrinkage strain measured from the concrete specimens were compared with empirical models proposed by ACI 209 and EC 2 for portland cement normal weight concrete. Splitting tensile strength, and moduli of elasticity and rupture were recorded and compared with design equations specified in ACI 318-08 or EC 2, and a database compiled from the present study for ordinary portland cement (OPC) lightweight concrete, wherever possible. Test results showed that the slump loss of lightweight AA slag concrete decreased with the increase of water content. In addition, the compressive strength development and different mechanical properties of lightweight AA slag concrete were comparable with those of OPC lightweight concrete and conservative comparing with predictions obtained from code provisions. Therefore, it can be proposed that the lightweight AA slag concrete is practically applicable as an environmental-friendly structural concrete.

• 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.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.105-106
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• 2011

The present tests examined the resistance to freezing and thawing of alkail-activated (AA) slag concrete having compressive strength between 30~56 MPa. To enhance the compressive strength and resistance to freezing and thawing of AA slag concrete, Na ions were used for an activator. Test results revealed that the resistance to freezing and thawing of AA slag concrete is comparable to that of cement concrete when compressive strength is more than 50 MPa.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.345-352
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the expansion of alkali-activated mortar based on ground granulated blast furnace slag containing reactive aggregate due to alkali-silica reaction. In addition, this study was particularly concerned with the behavior of these alkaline materials in the presence of reactive aggregates. The experimental program included expansion measurement of the mortar bar specimens, as well as the determination of the morphology and composition of the alkali-silica reaction products by using scanning electron microscopy(SEM), and energy dispersive x-ray(EDX). The experiment showed that while alkali-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag mortars showed expansion due to the alkali-silica reaction, the expansion was 0.1% at Curing Day 14, showing that it is safe. After the accelerated test, SEM and BEM analysis showed the presence of alkali-silica gel and rim around the aggregate and cement paste. According to the EDX, the reaction products decreased markedly as alkali-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag was used. In addition, for the substitutive materials of mineral admixture, a further study on improving the quality of alkali-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag is needed to assure of the durability properties of concrete.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• 2015.07a
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• pp.218-219
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• 2015

Precast concrete produced in the industry is advantage that easy to manage, and it save construction period in the field. The specimens according to the type of activator for AAS(Alkali-Activated Slag) mortar cured in an autoclave. The specimens of AAS mortar with sodium was shown the high rate of increase of the compressive strength.

• 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.