INFLUENCE OF ELEVATED TEMPERATURE ON THE EARLY AGE PROPERTIES OF CEMENT MORTAR WITH ZEOLITE POWDER

• Published in: International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference : SGEM Vol. 22; no. 6.2; pp. 429 - 436
• Main Authors: Toma, Ionut-Ovidiu, Alexa-Stratulat, Sergiu-Mihai, Mihai, Petru, Toma, Ana-Maria, Venghiac, Vasile-Mircea
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Sofia Surveying Geology & Mining Ecology Management (SGEM) 01.01.2022
• Subjects: Age; Aluminum oxide; Calcium hydroxide; Cement; Chemical composition; Compressive strength; Concrete; Construction materials; Durability; Energy costs; Gels; High temperature; Mechanical properties; Mortars (material); Portland cement; Portland cements; Powder; Prisms; Room temperature; Silica; Silicon dioxide; Slaked lime; Temperature; Temperature effects; Tensile strength; Volcanic rocks; Zeolites
• ISSN: 1314-2704
• DOI: 10.5593/sgem2022V/6.2/s26.55

Zeolites can either occur naturally, in volcanic rock formations, or can be synthesized in the laboratory. When ground to a fine powder, they can be successfully used as supplementary cementitious material because of their chemical composition consisting in large amounts of SiO2 and Al2O3 that react with Ca(OH)2 to produce C-S-H gels. The composition of synthetic zeolites can be tailored to suit the purpose of their use in cementbased mortar and concrete and they can be produced from a variety of sources and at much lower energy costs than Portland cement. The use of zeolites in cement-based construction materials has led to improved mechanical and durability properties. The paper presents the preliminary results on using zeolites as supplementary cementitious material in mortar and the influence of elevated temperatures on the early age mechanical properties. The main parameters of the research were the replacement percentage of Portland cement by zeolite powder (10% and 20%, by volume of cement) as well as different temperature values (100°C, 150°C and 200°C). Standard 40x40x160 mm mortar prisms were cast and cured in water for 14 days before being subjected to elevated temperatures in an oven for 4 hours then left to gradually cool until they reached the room temperature. A control mix consisting of rapid hardening Portland cement was also cast and served as reference in the experimental program. The obtained results are presented in terms of density of the mortar mix, flexural and compressive strength.