Effect of copper mine tailings and copper slag on the hydration, microstructure, and mechanical property in Portland cement
There has been a growing interest in exploring copper mine tailings (CMT) and copper slag (CS) as alternative supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). However, limited studies systematically compare CMT and CS with traditional SCMs in terms of hydration products and microstructural characteristi...
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Results in Engineering |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025009661 |
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| author | Hang Zeng Sivakumar Ramanathan Hee Jeong Kim |
| author_facet | Hang Zeng Sivakumar Ramanathan Hee Jeong Kim |
| author_sort | Hang Zeng |
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| description | There has been a growing interest in exploring copper mine tailings (CMT) and copper slag (CS) as alternative supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). However, limited studies systematically compare CMT and CS with traditional SCMs in terms of hydration products and microstructural characteristics. And conflicting findings exist regarding their impact on mechanical performance and hydration mechanisms in Portland cement. To address these gaps, this study evaluates the reactivity and performance of CMT and CS in comparison with fly ash, blast furnace slag, and limestone powder (LS). The modified R3 reactivity test results indicate that CMT is inert, while CS exhibits lower reactivity. Compressive strength, water absorption, pore volume, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to evaluate cementitious paste. The results show that at low replacement levels, their mechanical performance remains comparable to that of reference mixtures. SEM micrographs reveal minimal changes in surface morphology and chemical composition. Quantitative TGA analysis shows that at 1 day, CMT and CS exhibit a dilution effect similar to other SCMs. At 28 days, LS, CS, and CMT surpass the dilution line, with LS demonstrating the highest bound water and calcium hydroxide content. This study demonstrates the proof of concept that the modified R3 test can serve as a rapid screening method for assessing SCM reactivity. In addition, the results provide a benchmark for the performance of CMT and CS before further activation strategies are explored, contributing to the broader effort of utilizing copper mine wastes as alternative SCMs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9b5a656b3b4f4558b1708ec5b93e21ba |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2590-1230 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| spelling | doaj-art-9b5a656b3b4f4558b1708ec5b93e21ba2025-08-20T02:17:29ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-06-012610489010.1016/j.rineng.2025.104890Effect of copper mine tailings and copper slag on the hydration, microstructure, and mechanical property in Portland cementHang Zeng0Sivakumar Ramanathan1Hee Jeong Kim2Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering & Mechanics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85718, USADepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USADepartment of Civil and Architectural Engineering & Mechanics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85718, USA; Corresponding author.There has been a growing interest in exploring copper mine tailings (CMT) and copper slag (CS) as alternative supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). However, limited studies systematically compare CMT and CS with traditional SCMs in terms of hydration products and microstructural characteristics. And conflicting findings exist regarding their impact on mechanical performance and hydration mechanisms in Portland cement. To address these gaps, this study evaluates the reactivity and performance of CMT and CS in comparison with fly ash, blast furnace slag, and limestone powder (LS). The modified R3 reactivity test results indicate that CMT is inert, while CS exhibits lower reactivity. Compressive strength, water absorption, pore volume, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to evaluate cementitious paste. The results show that at low replacement levels, their mechanical performance remains comparable to that of reference mixtures. SEM micrographs reveal minimal changes in surface morphology and chemical composition. Quantitative TGA analysis shows that at 1 day, CMT and CS exhibit a dilution effect similar to other SCMs. At 28 days, LS, CS, and CMT surpass the dilution line, with LS demonstrating the highest bound water and calcium hydroxide content. This study demonstrates the proof of concept that the modified R3 test can serve as a rapid screening method for assessing SCM reactivity. In addition, the results provide a benchmark for the performance of CMT and CS before further activation strategies are explored, contributing to the broader effort of utilizing copper mine wastes as alternative SCMs.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025009661Copper mine wastesAlternative supplementary cementitious materialsSCM reactivityFiller effectHydration |
| spellingShingle | Hang Zeng Sivakumar Ramanathan Hee Jeong Kim Effect of copper mine tailings and copper slag on the hydration, microstructure, and mechanical property in Portland cement Results in Engineering Copper mine wastes Alternative supplementary cementitious materials SCM reactivity Filler effect Hydration |
| title | Effect of copper mine tailings and copper slag on the hydration, microstructure, and mechanical property in Portland cement |
| title_full | Effect of copper mine tailings and copper slag on the hydration, microstructure, and mechanical property in Portland cement |
| title_fullStr | Effect of copper mine tailings and copper slag on the hydration, microstructure, and mechanical property in Portland cement |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of copper mine tailings and copper slag on the hydration, microstructure, and mechanical property in Portland cement |
| title_short | Effect of copper mine tailings and copper slag on the hydration, microstructure, and mechanical property in Portland cement |
| title_sort | effect of copper mine tailings and copper slag on the hydration microstructure and mechanical property in portland cement |
| topic | Copper mine wastes Alternative supplementary cementitious materials SCM reactivity Filler effect Hydration |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025009661 |
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