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Diatomaceous Earth as a Pozzolan in the Fabrication of an Alkali-Activated Fine-Aggregate Limestone Concrete
Journal article

Diatomaceous Earth as a Pozzolan in the Fabrication of an Alkali-Activated Fine-Aggregate Limestone Concrete

Sean A. Miller, Aaron R. Sakulich, Michel W. Barsoum and Eva Jud Sierra
Journal of the American Ceramic Society, v 93(9), pp 2828-2836
01 Sep 2010

Abstract

Materials Science Materials Science, Ceramics Science & Technology Technology
Two concretes-with Ca/Si ratios of 0.28 and 1.75 fabricated by cementing a fine-limestone aggregate with a mixture of lime, diatomaceous earth, and water-were compared with ones made with pure lime and a hydraulic lime product, containing similar to 11 wt% naturally occurring reactive silica. When the Ca/Si ratio in the cementing phase was 0.28, compressive strengths of similar to 6.5 MPa after 30 days and similar to 7 MPa after 180 days were achieved by curing the samples in closed containers or in 100% relative humidity. When allowed to dry, however, these samples lost roughly half their compressive strength in 7 days. Increasing the Ca/Si ratio to 1.75 solved the drying problems. The resulting compressive strengths, however, after 180 days, were reduced to 5 MPa. Characterization of the various cementing phases formed in the different samples by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis showed the formation of two, somewhat competing, cementing reactions: C-S-H gel formation which results in early strength gains, and the recarbonation of portlandite, which results in longer term strength enhancements.

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Web of Science research areas
Materials Science, Ceramics
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