The influence of supplementary materials such as slag, metakaolin and limestone in steam-cured ternary and quaternary cement blends on physical and chemical hydration mechanisms was studied by analyzing the evolution of non-evaporable water content, hydration products and compressive strength. The role of limestone in hydration reactions of cement was also investigated. These properties were studied through the use of differential thermal and thermogravimetric analyses, as well as the loss-on-ignition, X-ray diffraction and compressive strength tests at 1, 3, 7, and 28 days. Research findings revealed that it is possible to replace up to 40% cement with other materials and still achieve compressive strengths similar to mixtures with a 25% cement replacement at 0.34 w/b ratio. Additionally, ternary limestone mixtures exhibited superior mechanical properties to ternary metakaolin mixtures. Lastly, limestone powder was determined to behave as inert filler, accelerating hydration at early ages through heterogeneous nucleation.

The influence of supplementary materials such as slag, metakaolin and limestone in steam-cured ternary and quaternary cement blends on physical and chemical hydration mechanisms was studied by analyzing the evolution of non-evaporable water content, hydration products and compressive strength. The role of limestone in hydration reactions of cement was also investigated. These properties were studied through the use of differential thermal and thermogravimetric analyses, as well as the loss-on-ignition, X-ray diffraction and compressive strength tests at 1, 3, 7, and 28 days. Research findings revealed that it is possible to replace up to 40% cement with other materials and still achieve compressive strengths similar to mixtures with a 25% cement replacement at 0.34 w/b ratio. Additionally, ternary limestone mixtures exhibited superior mechanical properties to ternary metakaolin mixtures. Lastly, limestone powder was determined to behave as inert filler, accelerating hydration at early ages through heterogeneous nucleation.

yes / Test results of thirty six ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS)-based mortars and eighteen fly ash (FA)-based mortars activated by sodium silicate and/or sodium hydroxide powders are presented. The main variables investigated were the mixing ratio of sodium oxide (Na2O) of the activators to source materials, water-to-binder ratio, and fine aggregate-to-binder ratio. Test results showed that GGBS based alkali-activated (AA) mortars exhibited much higher compressive strength but slightly less flow than FA based AA mortars for the same mixing condition. Feed-forward neural networks and simplified equations developed from nonlinear multiple regression analysis were proposed to evaluate the initial flow and 28-day compressive strength of AA mortars. The training and testing of neural networks, and calibration of the simplified equations were achieved using a comprehensive database of 82 test results of mortars activated by sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide powders. Compressive strength development of GGBS-based alkali-activated mortars was also estimated using the formula specified in ACI 209 calibrated against the collected database. Predictions obtained from the trained neural network or developed simplified equations were in good agreement with test results, though early strength of GGBS-based alkali-activated mortars was slightly overestimated by the proposed simplified equations.

yes / The present paper reports the testing of 12 alkali-activated mortars and a control ordinary portland cement (OPC) mortar. The main aim is to develop cementless binder activated by sodium silicate powder. An alkali quality coefficient combining the amounts of main compositions of source materials and sodium oxide (Na2O) in sodium silicate is proposed to assess the properties of alkali activated mortars, based on the hydration mechanism of alkali-activated pastes. Fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) were employed as source materials. The ratio of Na2O-to-source material by weight for different mortars ranged between 0.038 and 0.164; as a result, alkali quality coefficient was varied from 0.0025 to 0.0365. Flow loss of fresh mortar, and shrinkage strain, compressive strength and modulus of rupture of hardened mortars were measured. The compressive strength development of alkali activated mortar was also compared with the design equations for OPC concrete specified in ACI 209 and EC 2. Test results clearly showed that the flow loss and compressive strength development of alkali-activated mortar were significantly dependent on the proposed alkali quality coefficient. In particular, a higher rate of compressive strength development achieved at early age for GGBS-based alkali-activated mortar and at long-term age for FA-based alkali-activated mortar. In addition, shrinkage strain and modulus of rupture of alkali-activated mortar were comparable to those of OPC mortar.

In well cementing, the cement slurry is exposed to the conditions far different than those of ordinary Portland cement (PC) used in construction. After placement, hardened cement paste should preserve integrity and provide zonal isolation through the life of the well. American Petroleum Institute (API) Class G cement is the most common cement type used in various well conditions. Class G cement has a high degree of sulfate resistance which makes it more stable than PC when subjected to the compulsive well conditions. Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) blended cement has a long history of use in the construction industry, but is not extensively used in well cementing applications. This study presents an experimental program to investigate the applicability of CEM I and GGBFS blended cement pastes in the well cementing industry. Class G cement and blends of CEM I and GGBFS with the proportions (80:20), (60:40), (40:60) and (20:80) are prepared with same water/cement ratio (0.44) as restricted for Class G cement in API Specification 10A to be tested. The cement pastes are cured for ages of 1 day, 7 days and 28 days at 80

In calcium aluminate cement (CAC) systems the hydration process is different than portland cement (PC) systems. The hydration products of CAC are subjected to conversion depending on temperature, moisture, water-cement ratio, cement content, etc. Consequently, strength of CAC system can be seriously reduced. However, presence of other inorganic binders or additives may alter the hydration process and improve various properties of CAC based composites. The objective of this study is to investigate the temperature effect on the behaviour of CAC based composite binders. Throughout this research, several combinations of CAC-PC, CAC-gypsum, CAC-lime, CAC-ground granulated blast furnace slag (CAC-GGBFS) were studied. These CAC based composite binders were subjected to seven different curing regimes and their strength developments were investigated up to 210 days. In addition, the mechanism of strength development was examined by XRD analyses performed at 28 and 210 days. Finally, some empirical relationships between strength-time-curing temperatures were formulated. Experimental results revealed that the increase in ambient temperature resulted in an increase in the rate of conversion, thereby causing drastic strength reduction, particularly in pure CAC mix. It has been observed that inclusion of small amount of PC, lime, and gypsum in CAC did not induce conversion-free CAC binary systems, rather they resulted in faster conversion by enabling rapid formation of stable C3AH6 instead of metastable, high strength inducing CAH10 and C2AH8. On the other hand, in CAC-GGBFS mixes, the formation of stable straetlingite (C2ASH8) instead of calcium aluminate hydrates hindered the conversion reactions. Therefore, CAC-GGBFS mixes, where GGBFS ratio was over 40%, did not exhibit strength loss due to conversion reactions that occurred in pure CAC systems.

In the production of cement, to increase the cement/clinker ratio and decrease CO2 emission, the most important alternative is to produce mineral admixture incorporated cements (CEM II-III-IV-V) instead of portland cement (CEM I). These cements are usually produced by intergrinding the portland cement clinker and the mineral admixtures. However, the difference between grindabilities of the different components of such cements may cause significant effects on the particle size distribution and many other properties. For this reason, separate grinding of additives and clinker may be thought as an alternative. In this study, the effects of intergrinding and separate grinding on the particle size distribution and consequently on the strength of portland composite cements which contained natural pozzolan (trass), granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) and limestone besides portland cement clinker were studied.

In recent years, scientific studies are carried out to find new refractory material. Having good mechanical properties under very high temperatures, refractories are widely used in industries like iron, steel, glass, cement and pottery. Researches are focused on monolithic refractory making because of their superior properties comparing to conventional firebrick refractories. Providing a mono-block body, having no joints makes the monolithic refractories more durable at elevated temperatures. Easier production and installation are two main points that people are choosing monolithic refractories, thus an economy is made. In this study, for monolithic refractory production, high alumina cement was used as binding material. It is known that the increase in alumina (Al2O3) content increases the high temperature resistance, so that crushed firebrick, having 85% Al2O3 was used as aggregate. Pozzolanic materials, which are silica fume, fly ash, ground granulated firebrick and ground granulated blast furnace slag, were added to improve physical and mechanical properties of mortar. With the addition of steel fibres, change in compressive strength and flexural strength was observed.Superplasticizer was used to understand its behaviour under high temperatures. Portland cement containing mortars were also prepared to make comparison with high alumina cement containing specimens. Specimens were prepared in 5x5x5 cm and 4x4x16 cm prisms. They were cured for one day at curing room, then heated to 105&deg / C and then heated to 1100&deg / C. Weight, size and ultrasound velocity change, compressive strength and flexural strength tests were done to determine physical and mechanical properties of the monolithic refractories, before and after heating. Heated and non-heated specimens were pulverized for microstructural investigation with X-Ray diffraction (XRD) method. Using high alumina cement with 50 &ndash / 60 % granulated blast furnace slag or granulated firebrick, by the weight of cement, and crushed firebrick as aggregate, a satisfactory monolithic refractory material was made. It was observed that, mechanical properties were decreased at the Portland cement used mortars after several times of heating and cooling cycles. Also, it was determined that the microstructure of the high alumina cement containing mortars did not deteriorate much at 1100&deg / C, as long as there was no change observed from the results.

L'objet des travaux réalisés dans cette thèse concerne la mise en oeuvre d'un éco-liant à base de co-produits industriels : une cendre volante papetière et un laitier moulu, pour la fabrication de mortiers secs. Cet éco-liant a été élaboré pour remplacer partiellement le ciment comme constituant de matériaux traditionnels d'une part, et recycler en grande quantité l'un des deux déchets industriels, la cendre volante papetière tout en intégrant les notions d'économie circulaire et d'éco-conception d'autre part. La littérature fait état de nombreux travaux sur les différents types de cendres et de laitiers mettant en avant les caractéristiques, la minéralogie, la réactivité de ces cendres volantes papetières et des laitiers moulus. Ces deux coproduits avec environ 20% de SiO2 et 50% de CaO (% pondéraux), ont une composition chimique très proche de celle d'un ciment et développent des propriétés pouzzolaniques qui peuvent suppléer celles du ciment. Leur valorisation comme matériau liant est alors envisageable. Une complète connaissance des propriétés physico-chimiques, structurelles et minéralogiques de la cendre volante papetière et du laitier moulu a conduit à une étude exploratoire de formulations. Des mélanges à partir de 72% de cendres volantes papetières et de 28% de laitier moulu ont été étudiés en se référantà la formulation de base d'un mortier pour en optimiser la teneur en eau et le niveau d'énergie de compactage. Un matériel spécifique pour compacter les éprouvettes prismatiques de dimensions 4x4x16cm3 de mortier a été utilisé. L'effet de l'ajout de trois types d'activateurs i.e. chlorure de calciumCaCl2, métasilicate de sodium Na2O3Si et carbonate de sodium Na2CO3, et d'une faible quantité deciment i.e. 5% et 10% a été analysé mettant en relation la résistance mécanique et la microstructure desmélanges. Deux formulations optimales ont fait l'objet d'analyses relatives à la minéralogie, auxrésistances mécaniques à 2, 7 et 28 jours de cure, à la microstructure avec des images MEB,distributions des pores et à la durabilité. Compte-tenu des résultats satisfaisants obtenus, une approcheà l'échelle semi-industrielle de fabrication de blocs 15x15x15 cm3 à partir des deux formulationsretenues a été menée et discutée. Les premiers résultats montrent un grand intérêt pour la fabricationde pavés et de produits dérivés pour l'aménagement de zones piétonnes ou à circulation réduite. / The aim of this thesis is the development of an eco-binder based on industrial co-products : a wastepapery ash and a ground granulated blast-furnace slag, for the manufacture of dry mortars. On the one hand,this eco-binder was developed to replace partially cement as a constituent of traditional materials, andon the other hand to recycle in large quantities one of these two industrial wastes ; wastepaper fly ashwith considering all the notions of circular economy and eco-design. From literature, there are numerousand relevant research works on the different types of ash and slag, highlighting the characteristics, themineralogy, the reactivity of the wastepaper fly ash and ground granulated blast-furnace slags in details.These two co-products with about 20 wt.% SiO2 and 50 wt.% CaO have a chemical composition veryclose to that of a cement and develop pozzolanic properties that can replace those of cement. Theirvalorization as a binder material is then possible. A complete knowledge of the physicochemical, structuraland mineralogical properties of wastepaper fly ash and ground granulated blast-furnace slag led to anexploratory study of formulations for dry mortars. The mixtures containing 72 wt.% of wastepaper fly ashand 28 wt.% of ground granulated blast-furnace slag were investigated with reference to the formulationof a standard mortar to optimize the water content and compaction energy level. A specific equipment forcompacting prismatic specimens with dimensions 4x4x16 cm3 was used. The effect of adding three types ofactivators i.e. calcium chloride CaCl2, sodium metasilicate Na2O3Si and sodium carbonate Na2CO3, anda small amount of cement i.e. 5 wt.% and 10 wt.% was analyzed. The relation between mechanical strengthand the microstructure of the mixtures has been detailed and discussed. Two optimal formulations wereimplemented and, mineralogy, mechanical strength at 2, 7 and 28 days of curing, microstructure withSEM images, pore distributions and durability have been considered and analyzed. Taking into accountthe satisfactory results obtained, a semi-industrial approach to manufacture 15x15x15 cm3 blocks fromthe two selected formulations was conducted and discussed. The first results show a great interest in themanufacture of blocks of pavement and derived products for the construction of pedestrian or reducedtraffic areas.

The aim of this study was to assess the strength, durability properties and corrosion resistance of concrete samples using supplementary cementitious blended materials. In this investigation, three supplementary concrete materials (SCMs) were used together with ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) to form cementitious blends at different proportions. The supplementary materials are silica fume (SF), ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and fly ash (FA). Sixteen (16) different proportions of the cementitious blends were produced. Tests carried out on concrete samples include slump test, compressive strength, oxygen permeability, sorptivity, porosity, chloride conductivity test, resistance to chloride and sulphate attack. The electrode potentials of tested samples were also observed using electrochemical measurements. Concrete specimens prepared with 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, up to 60% of blended cements replacement levels were evaluated for their compressive strength at, 7, 14, 28, 90 and 120 days while the specimens were evaluated for durability tests at 28, and 90 days respectively. The results were compared with ordinary Portland cement concrete without blended cement. Voltage, and temperature measurements were also carried out to understand the quality of concrete. The corrosion performance of steel in reinforced concrete was studied and evaluated by electrochemical half-cell potential technique in both sodium chloride, and magnesium sulphate solutions respectively. The reinforced concrete specimens with centrally embedded 12mm steel bar were exposed to chloride and sulphate solutions with the 0.5 M NaCl and MgSO4 concentrations respectively. An impressed voltage technique was carried out to evaluate the corrosion resistance of the combination of quaternary cementitious blended cement, so as to get the combination with optimum performance. Improvement of strength, durability, and corrosion resistance properties of blended concrete samples are observed at different optimum percentages for binary, ternary and quaternary samples. The effect of cementitious blends is recognized in limiting the corrosion potential of the tested SCM concrete samples. Generally, the cementitious blends with limited quantity of SF to 10% have the potential to produce satisfactory concrete. These should however be used for low cost construction, where high quality concrete is not required. / Civil and Chemical Engineering / M. Tech. (Chemical Engineering)