Determination of Gel Products in Alkali-Activated Fly Ash-Based Composites Incorporating Inorganic Calcium Additives

The introduction of soluble calcium additives contributes to forming calcium-containing geopolymer (N,C)-A-S-H and/or calcium (alumino)silicate hydration C-(A)-S-H in alkali-activated fly ash-based composites (AAFCs). However, the quantitative determination of the final gel product has yet been uncl...

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Main Authors: Haoyu Wang, Xianhui Zhao, Ting Wang, Lei Su, Boyu Zhou, Yonghui Lin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-01-01
Series:Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/7476671
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author Haoyu Wang
Xianhui Zhao
Ting Wang
Lei Su
Boyu Zhou
Yonghui Lin
author_facet Haoyu Wang
Xianhui Zhao
Ting Wang
Lei Su
Boyu Zhou
Yonghui Lin
author_sort Haoyu Wang
collection DOAJ
description The introduction of soluble calcium additives contributes to forming calcium-containing geopolymer (N,C)-A-S-H and/or calcium (alumino)silicate hydration C-(A)-S-H in alkali-activated fly ash-based composites (AAFCs). However, the quantitative determination of the final gel product has yet been unclear due to the different chemical components, which influences the prediction of mechanical strength and microstructure. This study aims to propose a method to clarify the gel products in AAFCs by the critical elemental compositions in gel products. Furthermore, the AAFCs were prepared (by casting method) using soda residue (SR) as the calcium additive, fly ash as the aluminosilicate precursor, and sodium silicate solution as the alkaline activator. The compressive strengths of the AAFCs with different SR contents were recorded. The microstructures and gel products of AAFCs were detected through scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer (29Si NMR). Finally, the proposed determination method was verified with the experimental results. The new proposed quantitative method refers to a limit value of 2Ca/Al = 1.00 about the critical chemical elements in gel products, which helps to determine the calcium-containing geopolymer (N,C)-A-S-H or/and calcium (alumino)silicate hydration C-(A)-S-H in stable AAFCs. Results show that the gel products are determined as single (N,C)-A-S-H gels when 2Ca/Al is lower than 1.00; meanwhile, (N,C)-A-S-H and C-(A)-S-H gels coexist when 2Ca/Al is higher than 1.00 by the above proposed quantitative determination method. Furthermore, it works that the industrial solid waste SRs regarded as calcium additive are applied in the AAFCs to verify the gel products by 2Ca/Al = 1.00 as the limit value. The results provide the theoretical and experimental basis for the performance prediction and microstructural determination.
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spelling doaj-art-8fe72d8087614951a4b09761fec91b532025-08-20T03:37:05ZengWileyAdvances in Materials Science and Engineering1687-84422022-01-01202210.1155/2022/7476671Determination of Gel Products in Alkali-Activated Fly Ash-Based Composites Incorporating Inorganic Calcium AdditivesHaoyu Wang0Xianhui Zhao1Ting Wang2Lei Su3Boyu Zhou4Yonghui Lin5Department of Civil EngineeringSchool of Civil EngineeringDepartment of Civil EngineeringDepartment of Civil EngineeringSchool of Civil and Transportation EngineeringSchool of Civil and Transportation EngineeringThe introduction of soluble calcium additives contributes to forming calcium-containing geopolymer (N,C)-A-S-H and/or calcium (alumino)silicate hydration C-(A)-S-H in alkali-activated fly ash-based composites (AAFCs). However, the quantitative determination of the final gel product has yet been unclear due to the different chemical components, which influences the prediction of mechanical strength and microstructure. This study aims to propose a method to clarify the gel products in AAFCs by the critical elemental compositions in gel products. Furthermore, the AAFCs were prepared (by casting method) using soda residue (SR) as the calcium additive, fly ash as the aluminosilicate precursor, and sodium silicate solution as the alkaline activator. The compressive strengths of the AAFCs with different SR contents were recorded. The microstructures and gel products of AAFCs were detected through scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer (29Si NMR). Finally, the proposed determination method was verified with the experimental results. The new proposed quantitative method refers to a limit value of 2Ca/Al = 1.00 about the critical chemical elements in gel products, which helps to determine the calcium-containing geopolymer (N,C)-A-S-H or/and calcium (alumino)silicate hydration C-(A)-S-H in stable AAFCs. Results show that the gel products are determined as single (N,C)-A-S-H gels when 2Ca/Al is lower than 1.00; meanwhile, (N,C)-A-S-H and C-(A)-S-H gels coexist when 2Ca/Al is higher than 1.00 by the above proposed quantitative determination method. Furthermore, it works that the industrial solid waste SRs regarded as calcium additive are applied in the AAFCs to verify the gel products by 2Ca/Al = 1.00 as the limit value. The results provide the theoretical and experimental basis for the performance prediction and microstructural determination.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/7476671
spellingShingle Haoyu Wang
Xianhui Zhao
Ting Wang
Lei Su
Boyu Zhou
Yonghui Lin
Determination of Gel Products in Alkali-Activated Fly Ash-Based Composites Incorporating Inorganic Calcium Additives
Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
title Determination of Gel Products in Alkali-Activated Fly Ash-Based Composites Incorporating Inorganic Calcium Additives
title_full Determination of Gel Products in Alkali-Activated Fly Ash-Based Composites Incorporating Inorganic Calcium Additives
title_fullStr Determination of Gel Products in Alkali-Activated Fly Ash-Based Composites Incorporating Inorganic Calcium Additives
title_full_unstemmed Determination of Gel Products in Alkali-Activated Fly Ash-Based Composites Incorporating Inorganic Calcium Additives
title_short Determination of Gel Products in Alkali-Activated Fly Ash-Based Composites Incorporating Inorganic Calcium Additives
title_sort determination of gel products in alkali activated fly ash based composites incorporating inorganic calcium additives
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/7476671
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