Please wait a minute...
Shopping Cart Email List Chinese
Advanced Search Fig/Tab
Frontiers of Structural and Civil Engineering

ISSN 2095-2430

ISSN 2095-2449(Online)

CN 10-1023/X

Postal Subscription Code 80-968

2018 Impact Factor: 1.272

Featured Articles  |  Most Downloaded  |  Most Reading
Online Submission Subscribe to Our RSS Content Feed
Front. Struct. Civ. Eng.    2021, Vol. 15 Issue (3) : 773-780    https://doi.org/10.1007/s11709-021-0722-z
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Utilization of alkali-activated copper slag as binder in concrete
Jagmeet SINGH, S P SINGH()
Department of Civil Engineering, Dr. B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar 144011, India
 Download: PDF(375 KB)   HTML
 Export: BibTeX | EndNote | Reference Manager | ProCite | RefWorks
Abstract

This study was focused on developing concrete using alkali-activated copper slag (AACS) as a binder. The properties of alkali-activated copper slag concrete (AACSC) were compared with portland cement concrete (PCC). Different AACSC mixes were prepared with varying Na2O dosage (6% and 8% of the binder by weight) and curing methods. Hydration products in AACSC were retrieved using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) techniques. The test results indicate that the workability of AACSC was lesser than that of PCC. The AACSC mix with 6% Na2O dosage has exhibited similar mechanical properties as that of PCC. The mechanical properties of AACSC were higher than PCC when 8% of Na2O dosage was used. Heat curing was effective to upgrade the strength properties of AACSC at an early age of curing, but at a later age mechanical properties of ambient cured and heat-cured AACSC were comparable. The hydration products of AACSC were not identified in XRD patterns, whereas, in FTIR spectra of AACSC some alkali-activated reaction products were reflected. The AACSC mixes were found to be more sustainable than PCC. It has been concluded that AACSC can be produced similarly to that of PCC and ambient curing is sufficient.
Keywords binder      concrete      mechanical properties      mineralogy      workability     
Corresponding Author(s): S P SINGH   
Online First Date: 13 July 2021    Issue Date: 14 July 2021
 Cite this article:   
Jagmeet SINGH,S P SINGH. Utilization of alkali-activated copper slag as binder in concrete[J]. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng., 2021, 15(3): 773-780.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fsce/EN/10.1007/s11709-021-0722-z
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fsce/EN/Y2021/V15/I3/773
compound (%) composition
CS PC
Si2O 37.60 30.30
Al2O3 11.50 11.80
Fe2O3 42.40 03.24
CaO 03.80 50.90
Na2O 00.74 00.68
K2O 00.76 01.09
TiO2 00.37 00.26
MgO 00.57 01.60
P2O5 00.13 00.06
Tab.1  Different chemical properties of Portland cement (PC) and copper slag (CS)
property CS PC
loss on ignition (%) 01.50 01.25
specific gravity 3.92 3.15
BET surface area (cm2/g) 5030 3350
Tab.2  Different physical properties of Portland cement (PC) and copper slag (CS)
aggregate type water absorption (%) specific gravity fineness modulus
coarse aggregates 0.5 2.74 6.28
fine aggregates 1 2.65 2.89
Tab.3  Physical properties of aggregates
coarse aggregates fine aggregates
IS sieve (mm) percentage passing (%) grading requirement IS sieve (mm) percentage passing (%) grading requirement
40 100 100 4.75 99.5 90–100
20 100 100 2.36 84.5 75–100
16 100 100 1.18 63.5 55–90
12.5 95 90–100 0.60 43.5 35–59
10 62.5 40–85 0.30 19.0 8–30
4.75 9.25 0–10 0.15 1.0 0–10
Tab.4  Grading of coarse and fine aggregates by IS 383 [13]
type of alkali activator solid content (%) water content (%) Na2O (%) Si2O (%) specific gravity
10 mol/L SH solution 30 70 23.25 – 1.33
SS solution 52 48 16.25 35.75 1.53
Tab.5  Properties of alkali-activators
mix PC CS alkali-activators coarse aggregates fine aggregates water W/B ratio
SH flakes added water 10M SH solution SS
solution
PCC 400 – – – – – 972 835 190 0.475
AACSC6 – 400 9.9 23.1 33 100 1140 831 68 0.30
AACSC8 – 400 13.2 30.8 44 134 1125 820 50 0.30
Tab.6  Mix proportions (kg/m3) for PCC and AACSC
Fig.1  Slump values of PCC and AACSC mixes.
No. of specimens 7 d (ambient cured) 28 d (ambient cured) 7 d (heat cured) 28 d (heat cured)
PCC AACSC6 AACSC8 PCC AACSC6 AACSC8 PCC AACSC6 AACSC8 PCC AACSC6 AACSC8
1 21.13 19.07 22.4 30.67 31.36 34.13 – 28.33 30.98 – 33.6 36.6
2 22.46 21.41 23.86 32.28 32.02 37.06 – 30.12 31.34 – 34.7 37.2
3 23.52 22.46 25.28 32.90 34.42 38.91 – 30.83 32.81 – 36.7 40.6
average 22.37 21.19 23.85 31.95 32.60 36.70 – 29.76 31.71 – 35.01 38.20
Tab.7  Compressive strength (MPa) values of PCC and AACSC mix after 7 and 28 d of ambient curing and heat curing
No. of specimens 7 d (ambient cured) 28 d (ambient cured) 7 d (heat cured) 28 d (heat cured)
PCC AACSC6 AACSC8 PCC AACSC6 AACSC8 PCC AACSC6 AACSC8 PCC AACSC6 AACSC8
1 2.59 2.45 2.61 3.07 3.13 3.31 – 2.89 3.06 – 3.24 3.46
2 2.73 2.62 2.78 3.32 3.34 3.50 – 3.09 3.18 – 3.47 3.63
3 2.78 2.76 2.86 3.33 3.52 3.66 – 3.26 3.45 – 3.55 3.86
average 2.70 2.61 2.75 3.24 3.33 3.49 – 3.08 3.23 – 3.42 3.65
Tab.8  Split tensile strength (MPa) values of PCC and AACSC mix after 7 and 28 d of ambient curing and heat curing
Fig.2  Average fc of ambient cured PCC and AACSC mixes.
Fig.3  Average fc of AACSC mixes with ambient and heat curing.
Fig.4  Comparison of predicted and experimental values of fsp of PCC and AACSC mixes.
Fig.5  XRD pattern of CS and ambient cured alkali-activated CS.
Fig.6  FTIR spectra of CS and ambient cured alkali-activated CS.
material data for each raw material per kg data for each concrete mix per m3
EE
(MJ)		 ECO2e
(kgCO2e)		 cost
(Rs)		 EE (MJ) ECO2e (kgCO2e) cost (Rs)
PCC AACSC6 AACSC8 PCC AACSC6 AACSC8 PCC AACSC6 AACSC8
PC 4.8 0.93 8 1920 0 0 372 0 0 3200 0 0
CS 0.1037a) 0.0137a) 0.05a) 0 41.48 41.48 0 5.48 5.48 0 20 20
SH flaks 20.5 3.2 25 0 202.95 270.6 0 31.68 42.24 0 247.5 330
SS 10.2 2 11 0 1020 1366.8 0 200 268 0 1100 1474
water 0.2 0.0008 0.01 38 18.22 16.16 0.15 0.07 0.06 1.9 0.91 0.80
fine
aggregates		 0.081 0.0051 1 67.63 67.31 66.42 4.25 4.23 4.18 835 831 820
coarse
aggregates		 0.083 0.0048 1 80.67 94.62 93.37 4.66 5.47 5.4 972 1140 1125
curing water b) 0.2 0.0008 0.05 79.52 0 0 0.31 0 0 19.88 0 0
total – – – 2185.82 1444.58 1854.83 381.37 246.93 325.36 5028.78 3339.41 3777
Tab.9  Embodied Energy (EE), Embodied Carbon Dioxide Emission (ECO2e) and cost analysis of AACSC and PCC mixes
1 L K Turner, F G Collins. Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2−e) emissions: A comparison between geopolymer and OPC cement concrete. Construction & Building Materials, 2013, 43: 125–130
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.01.023
2 J L Provis. Alkali-activated materials. Cement and Concrete Research, 2018, 114: 40–48
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2017.02.009
3 A Purdon. The action of alkalis on blast furnace slag. Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry, 1940, 59(9): 191–202
4 F Alberto, M S Guerreiro. World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Geneva: Springer, 2020
5 J Singh, S P Singh. Geopolymerization of solid waste of non-ferrous metallurgy—A review. Journal of Environmental Management, 2019, 251: 109571
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109571
6 United States Geological Survey. Commodity Statistics and Information. Virginia: National Minerals Information Centre, 2018
7 R K Dhir, J D Brito, R Mangabhai, C Q Lye. Sustainable Construction Materials: Copper Slag. Cityname: Woodhead Publishing, 2017
8 J Singh, S P Singh. Evaluating the alkali-silica reaction in Alkali-Activated copper slag mortars. Construction & Building Materials, 2020, 253: 119189
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119189
9 J Singh, S P Singh. Synthesis of alkali-activated binder at ambient temperature using copper slag as precursor. Materials Letters, 2020, 262: 127169
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2019.127169
10 A Nazer, J Payá, M V Borrachero, J Monzó. Use of ancient copper slags in Portland cement and alkali-activated cement matrices. Journal of Environmental Management, 2016, 167: 115–123
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.11.024
11 J Singh, S P Singh. Development of alkali-activated cementitious material using copper slag. Construction & Building Materials, 2019, 211: 73–79
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.03.233
12 IS 8112. Ordinary Portland Cement 43 Grade—Specifications. New Delhi: Bureau of Indian Standards, 2013
13 IS 383. Coarse and Fine Aggregates for Concrete—Specification. New Delhi: Bureau of Indian Standards, 2016
14 IS 10262. Concrete Mix Proportions—Guidelines. New Delhi: Bureau of Indian Standards, 2019
15 IS 1199. Methods of Sampling and Analysis of Concrete. New Delhi: Bureau of Indian Standards, 2004
16 IS 516. Methods of Tests for Strength of Concrete. New Delhi: Bureau of Indian Standard, 1959
17 IS 5816. Splitting Tensile Strength of Concrete—Method of Test. New Delhi: Bureau of Indian Standard, 1999
18 M, Talha Junaid O Kayali, A Khennane, J Black. A mix design procedure for low calcium alkali-activated fly ash-based concretes. Construction & Building Materials, 2015, 79: 301–310
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.01.048
19 P S Deb, P Nath, P K Sarker. The effects of ground granulated blast-furnace slag blending with fly ash and activator content on the workability and strength properties of geopolymer concrete cured at ambient temperature. Materials & Design, 2014, 62: 32–39
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2014.05.001
20 P Nath, P K Sarker. Effect of GGBFS on setting, workability and early strength properties of fly ash geopolymer concrete cured in ambient condition. Construction & Building Materials, 2014, 66: 163–171
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.05.080
21 J Singh, J Singh, M Kaur. Eco-friendly concrete using industrial waste copper slag. Ecology Environment and Conservation, 2016, 22(4): 1977–1981
22 X Guo, H Shi, W A Dick. Compressive strength and microstructural characteristics of class C fly ash geopolymer. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2010, 32(2): 142–147
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2009.11.003
23 ACI Committee 318. Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318–99) and Commentary (ACI 318RM-99). Farmington Hills: American Concrete Institute, 1999
24 C A Rees, J L Provis, G C Lukey, J S J van Deventer. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared analysis of fly ash geopolymer gel ageing. Langmuir, 2007, 23(15): 8170–8179
https://doi.org/10.1021/la700713g
25 S N Ghosh. Infrared spectra of some selected minerals, rocks and products. Journal of Materials Science, 1978, 13(9): 1877–1886
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00552894
26 A Fernández-Jiménez, A Palomo. Mid-infrared spectroscopic studies of alkali-activated fly ash structure. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 2005, 86(1–3): 207–214
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micromeso.2005.05.057
27 A Hajimohammadi, J L Provis, J S J van Deventer. Effect of alumina release rate on the mechanism of geopolymer gel formation. Chemistry of Materials, 2010, 22(18): 5199–5208
https://doi.org/10.1021/cm101151n
28 Y Pontikes, L Machiels, S Onisei, L Pandelaers, D Geysen, P T Jones, B Blanpain. Slags with a high Al and Fe content as precursors for inorganic polymers. Applied Clay Science, 2013, 73: 93–102
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2012.09.020
29 S Onisei, A P Douvalis, A Malfliet, A Peys, Y Pontikes. Inorganic polymers made of fayalite slag: On the microstructure and behavior of Fe. Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 2018, 101(6): 2245–2257
https://doi.org/10.1111/jace.15420
30 B Yaragal, B Chethan Kumar, C Jitin. Durability studies on ferrochrome slag as coarse aggregate in sustainable alkali-activated slag/fly ash-based concretes. Sustainable Materials Technology, 2020, 23: e00137
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.susmat.2019.e00137
31 N P Rajamane, M C Nataraja, R Jeyalakshmi, S Nithiyanantham. Greener durable concretes through geopolymerization of blast furnace slag. Materials Research Express, 2015, 2(5): 055502
https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/2/5/055502
32 N Palankar, A U Ravi Shankar, B M Mithun. Durability studies on eco-friendly concrete mixes incorporating steel slag as coarse aggregates. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2016, 129: 437–448
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.04.033
33 C Kumar B, S C Yaragal, B B Das. Ferrochrome ash—Its usage potential in alkali-activated slag mortars. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2020, 257: 120577
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120577
34 B M Mithun, M C Narasimhan. Performance of alkali-activated slag concrete mixes incorporating copper slag as fine aggregate. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2016, 112: 837–844
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.06.026
35 R Sharma, R A Khan. Sustainable use of copper slag in self-compacting concrete containing supplementary cementitious materials. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2017, 151: 179–192
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.03.031
36 N. Supekar Utilisation of Copper Slag for Cement Manufacture. Sterlite Industries (I) Ltd, 2007, 1–15.
37 International Energy Agency (IEA). Global Energy & CO2 Status Report. 2019
[1] Jingwei YING, Yijie HUANG, Xu GAO, Xibo QI, Yuedong SUN. Effects of coarse and fine aggregates on long-term mechanical properties of sea sand recycled aggregate concrete[J]. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng., 2021, 15(3): 754-772.
[2] Shuwen DENG, Xudong SHAO, Xudong ZHAO, Yang WANG, Yan WANG. Precast steel–UHPC lightweight composite bridge for accelerated bridge construction[J]. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng., 2021, 15(2): 364-377.
[3] Pierclaudio SAVINO, Francesco TONDOLO. Automated classification of civil structure defects based on convolutional neural network[J]. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng., 2021, 15(2): 305-317.
[4] Qing JIANG, Hanqin WANG, Xun CHONG, Yulong FENG, Xianguo YE. Flexural behavior of high-strength, steel-reinforced, and prestressed concrete beams[J]. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng., 2021, 15(1): 227-243.
[5] Pratik P. BHATT, Venkatesh K. R. KODUR, Anuj M. SHAKYA, Tarek ALKHRDAJI. Performance of insulated FRP-strengthened concrete flexural members under fire conditions[J]. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng., 2021, 15(1): 177-193.
[6] Ahmad SHARAFATI, H. NADERPOUR, Sinan Q. SALIH, E. ONYARI, Zaher Mundher YASEEN. Simulation of foamed concrete compressive strength prediction using adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system optimized by nature-inspired algorithms[J]. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng., 2021, 15(1): 61-79.
[7] Fangyu LIU, Wenqi DING, Yafei QIAO, Linbing WANG. An artificial neural network model on tensile behavior of hybrid steel-PVA fiber reinforced concrete containing fly ash and slag power[J]. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng., 2020, 14(6): 1299-1315.
[8] Mohammad Reza AZADI KAKAVAND, Ertugrul TACIROGLU. An enhanced damage plasticity model for predicting the cyclic behavior of plain concrete under multiaxial loading conditions[J]. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng., 2020, 14(6): 1531-1544.
[9] Harun TANYILDIZI, Abdulkadir ŞENGÜR, Yaman AKBULUT, Murat ŞAHİN. Deep learning model for estimating the mechanical properties of concrete containing silica fume exposed to high temperatures[J]. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng., 2020, 14(6): 1316-1330.
[10] Fulin Qu, Wengui Li, Xiaohui Zeng, Zhiyu Luo, Kejin Wang, Daichao Sheng. Effect of microlimestone on properties of self-consolidating concrete with manufactured sand and mineral admixture[J]. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng., 2020, 14(6): 1545-1560.
[11] Subhasis PRADHAN, Shailendra KUMAR, Sudhirkumar V. BARAI. Understanding the behavior of recycled aggregate concrete by using thermogravimetric analysis[J]. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng., 2020, 14(6): 1561-1572.
[12] Beibei SUN, Hao WU, Weimin SONG, Zhe LI, Jia YU. Hydration, microstructure and autogenous shrinkage behaviors of cement mortars by addition of superabsorbent polymers[J]. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng., 2020, 14(5): 1274-1284.
[13] Luisa PANI, Flavio STOCHINO. Punching of reinforced concrete slab without shear reinforcement: Standard models and new proposal[J]. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng., 2020, 14(5): 1196-1214.
[14] Divahar RAVI, Aravind Raj PONSUBBIAH, Sangeetha Sreekumar PRABHA, Joanna Philip SARATHA. Experimental, analytical and numerical studies on concrete encased trapezoidally web profiled cold-formed steel beams by varying depth-thickness ratio[J]. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng., 2020, 14(4): 930-946.
[15] Mahgoub M. SALIH, Adelaja I. OSOFERO, Mohammed S. IMBABI. Critical review of recent development in fiber reinforced adobe bricks for sustainable construction[J]. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng., 2020, 14(4): 839-854.
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited
  Shared   
  Discussed