Journal article
Thermal performance of calcium-rich alkali-activated materials: A microstructural and mechanical study
A Kashani, TD Ngo, B Walkley, P Mendis
Construction and Building Materials | ELSEVIER SCI LTD | Published : 2017
Abstract
The effects of Si/Al, Na/Al and water/solids ratios on thermal performance of alkali-activated materials (AAM) based on fly ash-slag blends are investigated. Higher Na/Al decreased compressive strength but increased post-heated strength retention and mass loss while reducing cracking at 1000 °C. Lower Si/Al resulted in lowest initial strength but highest thermal stability, with an increase in strength after exposure to 1000 °C, while a high degree of cracking was observed at higher Si/Al ratio. The effect of w/s on thermal performance was subtle. Computed tomography analysis showed for the first time thermally induced expansion of pores which reduced surface cracking via water vapour pressur..
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Awarded by Australian Research Council
Funding Acknowledgements
This project was funded through an Australian Research Council Linkage Project [Grant Number: LP140100504] and through the ARC Centre for Advanced Manufacturing of Prefabricated Housing. The authors acknowledge the support of the Trace Analysis for Chemical, Earth and Environmental Sciences (TrACEES) platform from the Melbourne Collaborative Infrastructure Research Program at the University of Melbourne and Dr Jay Black from School of Earth Sciences for assistance with mu-CT experiments. XRD analysis was performed in part at the Materials Characterisation and Fabrication Platform (MCFP), The University of Melbourne, and the Victorian Node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF). The authors also acknowledge the use of laboratory facilities of the Geopolymer and Minerals Processing Group, The University of Melbourne.