Characterization and evaluation of non silicate based alkali activated slag concrete

Abstract

The binder is a key material for the construction industry, as it provides the necessary foundation for modern-age development. However, the binder has not always been the same, and it has undergone several changes and improvements over time. The need for better performance, lower cost, and lower environmental impact has triggered these innovations. The earliest forms of binders were natural materials, such as loam, limestone, and gypsum. These binders had limited strength, durability, and availability. The discovery of Portland cement in the 19th century revolutionized the binder industry, as it offered a high-strength, versatile, and widely available newlinebinder that could be mixed with water and binder construction industry, and it enabled the development of many infrastructures and buildings around the world. However, Portland cement also had some drawbacks, such as high energy newlineconsumption, high carbon dioxide emissions, high dust pollution, and high newlinesusceptibility to chemical attacks. Therefore, researchers and engineers started to look for alternative binders that could reduce these problems. One of the promising alternatives was the use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), which are by-products or waste materials from other industries that have cementitious or pozzolanic properties. Some examples of SCMs are fly ash, silica fume, rice husk ash, metakaolin, and ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS).