Optimizing The Na2O Dosage to Develop Mechanical Properties of Ferrochrome Slag-Based Alkali-Activated Mortar

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of alkali dosage on the compressive strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity of alkali-activated ferrochrome slag/Portland mortar. A total of eight mortar mixtures were produced. While four of the mixtures contain 15% Portland cement, the binder material of the other four mixtures consists entirely of ferrochrome slag. These alkali-activated mortar mixtures were prepared with four alkali dosages (4, 6, 8, and 10). The alkali modulus of all mixtures was kept constant at 1.4. Compressive strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity tests were performed to examine the effect of alkali dosage on both PC-substituted and PC-free mortars. As the alkali dosage increased, the compressive strengths of both PC-substituted and unsubstituted mortar specimens increased. It was seen that the critical alkali dosage of the alkali-activated mortar was 6%. Compressive strength and UPV values of the mortar specimens increased significantly with PC substitution

Keywords

• alkali-activated cement
• alkali dosage
• ferrochrome slag
• portland cement
• compressive strength

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