RESUMO
The main objective of the study was to produce alternative binder materials, obtained with low cost, low energy consumption, and low CO2 production, by regenerating end-of-life (EOL) materials from mineral deposits, to replace ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The materials analyzed were ash and slag from the Turceni thermal power plant deposit, Romania. These were initially examined for morphology, mineralogical composition, elemental composition, degree of crystallinity, and heating behavior, to determine their ability to be used as a potential source of supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) and to establish the activation and transformation temperature in the SCM. The in-situ pozzolanic behavior of commercial cement, as well as cement mixtures with different percentages of ash addition, were further observed. The mechanical resistance, water absorption, sorptivity capacity, resistance to alkali reactions (ASR), corrosion resistance, and resistance to reaction with sulfates were evaluated in this study using low-vacuum scanning electron microscopy.
RESUMO
A sustainable solution for the global construction industry can be partial substitution of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) by use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) sourced from industrial end-of-life (EOL) products that contain calcareous, siliceous and aluminous materials. Candidate EOL materials include fly ash (FA), silica fume (SF), natural pozzolanic materials like sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA), palm oil fuel ash (POFA), rice husk ash (RHA), mine tailings, marble dust, construction and demolition debris (CDD). Studies have revealed these materials to be cementitious and/or pozzolanic in nature. Their use as SCMs would decrease the amount of cement used in the production of concrete, decreasing carbon emissions associated with cement production. In addition to cement substitution, EOL products as SCMs have also served as coarse and also fine aggregates in the production of eco-friendly concretes.
