Insight into the durability of concrete based on ultrafine ground granulated blast furnace slag, phosphogypsum, and steel slag

The development of fully solid waste-based concrete offers a promising sustainable solution to reduce environmental impact and conserve natural resources. However, its durability under aggressive environmental conditions remains a major concern limiting wider application. This study systematically e...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xiao Huang, Junming Liao, Jinfang Zhang, Yingfu Wang, Qingge Feng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Journal of Materials Research and Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425018642
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850068042149527552
author Xiao Huang
Junming Liao
Jinfang Zhang
Yingfu Wang
Qingge Feng
author_facet Xiao Huang
Junming Liao
Jinfang Zhang
Yingfu Wang
Qingge Feng
author_sort Xiao Huang
collection DOAJ
description The development of fully solid waste-based concrete offers a promising sustainable solution to reduce environmental impact and conserve natural resources. However, its durability under aggressive environmental conditions remains a major concern limiting wider application. This study systematically evaluates the durability performance of ultrafine solid waste-based concrete (UFBC) composed of ground granulated blast furnace slag, phosphogypsum, and steel slag, focusing on sulfate attack, carbonation, chloride penetration, and freeze-thaw resistance. Experimental results indicate that after 250 freeze-thaw cycles, UFBC maintains a relative dynamic modulus above 75 % and mass loss below 5 %, outperforming Portland cement-based concrete (PCBC) and unground solid waste-based concrete (UBC), which failed after 150 cycles. Sulfate corrosion in UFBC primarily produces needle-like ettringite (AFt), causing less microstructural damage than the gypsum crystals formed in PCBC and UBC. UFBC exhibits significantly lower electric flux values (around 770–860 C) and water absorption rates compared to PCBC and UBC, attributable to a dense pore structure and enhanced formation of aluminate hydration products, which effectively hinder chloride migration. Despite lower alkalinity, UFBC's carbonation depth after 28 days (as low as 0.32 cm) closely matches that of PCBC and is substantially lower than UBC. These findings demonstrate that ultrafine grinding of solid wastes significantly enhances hydration and pore refinement, resulting in concrete with superior durability and environmental benefits. This work provides critical insights for the design of high-performance, sustainable concrete for service in aggressive environments.
format Article
id doaj-art-8d237f6e9c8c48bdb311b1bda6aaa282
institution DOAJ
issn 2238-7854
language English
publishDate 2025-09-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Journal of Materials Research and Technology
spelling doaj-art-8d237f6e9c8c48bdb311b1bda6aaa2822025-08-20T02:48:10ZengElsevierJournal of Materials Research and Technology2238-78542025-09-0138496110.1016/j.jmrt.2025.07.206Insight into the durability of concrete based on ultrafine ground granulated blast furnace slag, phosphogypsum, and steel slagXiao Huang0Junming Liao1Jinfang Zhang2Yingfu Wang3Qingge Feng4School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection (Guangxi University), Education Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, 530004, ChinaSchool of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection (Guangxi University), Education Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, 530004, ChinaSchool of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection (Guangxi University), Education Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, 530004, ChinaShanghai Transportation Construction General Contracting Co., Ltd, Shanghai, 200002, China; Corresponding author. Shanghai Transportation Construction General Contracting Co., Ltd, Shanghai, 200002, ChinaSchool of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection (Guangxi University), Education Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, 530004, China; Corresponding author. School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China.The development of fully solid waste-based concrete offers a promising sustainable solution to reduce environmental impact and conserve natural resources. However, its durability under aggressive environmental conditions remains a major concern limiting wider application. This study systematically evaluates the durability performance of ultrafine solid waste-based concrete (UFBC) composed of ground granulated blast furnace slag, phosphogypsum, and steel slag, focusing on sulfate attack, carbonation, chloride penetration, and freeze-thaw resistance. Experimental results indicate that after 250 freeze-thaw cycles, UFBC maintains a relative dynamic modulus above 75 % and mass loss below 5 %, outperforming Portland cement-based concrete (PCBC) and unground solid waste-based concrete (UBC), which failed after 150 cycles. Sulfate corrosion in UFBC primarily produces needle-like ettringite (AFt), causing less microstructural damage than the gypsum crystals formed in PCBC and UBC. UFBC exhibits significantly lower electric flux values (around 770–860 C) and water absorption rates compared to PCBC and UBC, attributable to a dense pore structure and enhanced formation of aluminate hydration products, which effectively hinder chloride migration. Despite lower alkalinity, UFBC's carbonation depth after 28 days (as low as 0.32 cm) closely matches that of PCBC and is substantially lower than UBC. These findings demonstrate that ultrafine grinding of solid wastes significantly enhances hydration and pore refinement, resulting in concrete with superior durability and environmental benefits. This work provides critical insights for the design of high-performance, sustainable concrete for service in aggressive environments.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425018642Ultrafine solid wasteConcreteSulfate attackCarbonationChloride penetrationFreeze-thaw resistance
spellingShingle Xiao Huang
Junming Liao
Jinfang Zhang
Yingfu Wang
Qingge Feng
Insight into the durability of concrete based on ultrafine ground granulated blast furnace slag, phosphogypsum, and steel slag
Journal of Materials Research and Technology
Ultrafine solid waste
Concrete
Sulfate attack
Carbonation
Chloride penetration
Freeze-thaw resistance
title Insight into the durability of concrete based on ultrafine ground granulated blast furnace slag, phosphogypsum, and steel slag
title_full Insight into the durability of concrete based on ultrafine ground granulated blast furnace slag, phosphogypsum, and steel slag
title_fullStr Insight into the durability of concrete based on ultrafine ground granulated blast furnace slag, phosphogypsum, and steel slag
title_full_unstemmed Insight into the durability of concrete based on ultrafine ground granulated blast furnace slag, phosphogypsum, and steel slag
title_short Insight into the durability of concrete based on ultrafine ground granulated blast furnace slag, phosphogypsum, and steel slag
title_sort insight into the durability of concrete based on ultrafine ground granulated blast furnace slag phosphogypsum and steel slag
topic Ultrafine solid waste
Concrete
Sulfate attack
Carbonation
Chloride penetration
Freeze-thaw resistance
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425018642
work_keys_str_mv AT xiaohuang insightintothedurabilityofconcretebasedonultrafinegroundgranulatedblastfurnaceslagphosphogypsumandsteelslag
AT junmingliao insightintothedurabilityofconcretebasedonultrafinegroundgranulatedblastfurnaceslagphosphogypsumandsteelslag
AT jinfangzhang insightintothedurabilityofconcretebasedonultrafinegroundgranulatedblastfurnaceslagphosphogypsumandsteelslag
AT yingfuwang insightintothedurabilityofconcretebasedonultrafinegroundgranulatedblastfurnaceslagphosphogypsumandsteelslag
AT qinggefeng insightintothedurabilityofconcretebasedonultrafinegroundgranulatedblastfurnaceslagphosphogypsumandsteelslag