• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.299-308
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• 2016

This paper presents an investigation of the mechanical and microstructural properties on hardened samples that were synthesized using blended binder(fly ash(FA) and blast furnace slag cement(BFSC)), alkali activator and sea water or distilled water. Binders were prepared by mixing the FA and BFSC in different blend weight ratios of 6:4, 7:3 and 8:2. Sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate were used 5 wt% of binder, respectively, as an alkaline activator. The compressive strength and absorption were measured at the age of 3, 7 and 28 days, and the XRD, TGA and MIP tests were performed at the age of 28 days. An increase in the content of BFSC leads to an increase in the quantities of ettringite and C-S-H formed, regardless of the type of mixing water. And it also shows higher strength due to the reduction of pores larger than ~50 nm. All hardened samples in this study have common hydration products of C-S-H, $Ca(OH)_2$ and calcite. Hydrocalumite of all reaction products formed was only present in hardened sample mixed with sea water. For each FA/BFSC mixing ratio, the compressive strength of hardened sample mixed with sea water was similar to that mixed with distilled water. It is proposed that the slight increase of strength of samples mixed with sea water is mainly due to the presence of hydrocalumite phase containing chlorine ion, contributing to the change of total porosity and pore size distribution in samples.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 2016

It has been well known that concrete structures exposed to chloride and sulfate attack environments lead to significant deterioration in their durability due to chloride ion and sulfate ion attack. The purpose of this experimental research is to evaluate the long-term durability against chloride ion and sulfate attack of the alkali activated cementless concrete replacing the cement with ground granulated blast furnace slag. For this purpose, the cementless concrete specimens were made for water-binder ratios of 40%, 45%, and 50%, respectively and then this specimens were cured in the water of $20{\pm}3^{\circ}C$ and immersed in fresh water, 10% sodium sulfate solution for 28, 91, 182, and 365 days, respectively. To evaluate the long-term durability to chloride ion and sulfate attack for the cementless concrete specimens, the diffusion coefficient for chloride ion and compressive strength ratio, mass change ratio, and length change ratio were measured according to the NT BUILD 492 and JSTM C 7401, respectively. It was observed from the test results that the resistance against chloride ion and sulfate attack of the cemetntless concrete were comparatively largely increased than those of OPC concrete irrespective of water-binder ratio.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.114-119
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• 2013

The present study tested 5 concrete mixes to develop reliable mixing proportions for the sustainable alkali-activated(AA) foamed concrete as a thermal insulation material for the floor heating system of buildings. The AA binder used was composed of 73.5% ground granulated blast-furnace slag, 15% fly ash, 5% calcium hydroxide, and 6.5% sodium silicate. As a main variable, the unit binder content varied from $325kg/m^3$ to $425kg/m^3$ at a space of $25kg/m^3$. The test results revealed that AA foamed concrete has considerable potential for practical applications when the unit binder content is close to $375kg/m^3$, which achieves the minimum quality requirements specified in KS F 4039 and ensures economic efficiency. In addition, lifecycle assessment demonstrated the reduction in the environmental impact profiles of all specimens relative to typical ordinary portland cement foamed concrete as follows: 99% for photochemical oxidation potential, 87~89% for global warming potential, 78~82% for abiotic depletion, and 70~75% for both acidification potential and human toxicity.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.473-474
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• 2010

This high pressure synchrotron X-ray diffraction study examined the change of bulk modulus of C-S-H(I), core material creating strength in alkali-activated slag cement as well as structural model of C-S-H, mainly attributed to Al-substitution for Si, which occurs at the bridging tetrahedral sites in dreierketten silicate chains in the nanostructure of C-S-H(I). This study presents that Al-substitution in C-S-H(I) does not affect the bulk modulus of C-S-H(I), which is surprising because many researchers have expected that Al-substitution should induce some critical change in mechanical properties of C-S-H(I).

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 2016

It is possible to achieve high strength ranging from 40 MPa to 70 MPa in alkali-activated slag concrete (AASC), and AASC is also known to have a finer pore structure due to its high latent hydraulicity and fineness of slag cement, which makes it difficult for chloride ions to penetrate. Electrophoresis is mostly used to calculate the effective diffusion coefficient of chloride ions, and then to evaluate resistance to salt damage. Few studies have been conducted on the fixation capacity of chloride ions in AASC. For this reason, in this study the chloride fixation within the hardened paste was evaluated according to the type and the amount of alkaline activators. As a result, it was revealed that among the test specimens, the chloride fixation was greatest in the paste containing $Na_2SiO_3$. In addition, it was found that as more activator was added, a higher level of chloride fixation was observed. Through this analysis, it can be concluded that the type and the amount of alkaline activators have a high correlation with the amount of C-S-H produced.