Acid Resistance of Alkali-Activated Natural Pozzolan and Limestone Powder Mortar

Khaled A. Alawi Al-Sodani (), Adeshina A. Adewumi (), Mohd Azreen Mohd Ariffin, Babatunde Abiodun Salami, Moruf O. Yusuf, Mohammed Ibrahim, Ali H. AlAteah, Mohammed M. H. Al-Tholaia, Sami M. Ibn Shamsah and Mohammad Ismail
Additional contact information
Khaled A. Alawi Al-Sodani: Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Hafr Al Batin, P.O. Box 1803, Hafr Al Batin 39524, Saudi Arabia
Adeshina A. Adewumi: Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Hafr Al Batin, P.O. Box 1803, Hafr Al Batin 39524, Saudi Arabia
Mohd Azreen Mohd Ariffin: Faculty of Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru 81310, Malaysia
Babatunde Abiodun Salami: Interdisciplinary Research Center for Construction and Building Materials, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Moruf O. Yusuf: Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Hafr Al Batin, P.O. Box 1803, Hafr Al Batin 39524, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Ibrahim: Applied Research Center for Metrology, Standards and Testing, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Ali H. AlAteah: Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Hafr Al Batin, P.O. Box 1803, Hafr Al Batin 39524, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed M. H. Al-Tholaia: Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Hafr Al Batin, P.O. Box 1803, Hafr Al Batin 39524, Saudi Arabia
Sami M. Ibn Shamsah: Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Hafr Al Batin, P.O. Box 1803, Hafr Al Batin 39524, Saudi Arabia
Mohammad Ismail: Faculty of Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru 81310, Malaysia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 21, 1-18

Abstract: The development of sustainable, environmentally friendly alkali-activated binder has emerged as an alternative to ordinary Portland cement. The engineering and durability properties of alkali-activated binder using various precursor combinations have been investigated; however, no study has focused on the impact of high-volume natural pozzolan (NP) on the acid resistance of alkali-activated NP and limestone powder. Therefore, the current study assesses the impact of high-volume natural pozzolan (volcanic ash) on the durability properties of alkali-activated natural pozzolan (NP) and limestone powder (LSP) mortar by immersion in 6% H 2 SO 4 for 365 days. The samples were prepared with different binder ratios using alkaline activators (10 M NaOH (aq) and Na 2 SO 4 ) combined in a 1:1 ratio and cured at 75 °C. NP was combined with the LSP at three different combinations: NP:LSP = 40:60 (AAN 40 L 60 ), 50:50 (AAN 50 L 50 ), and 60:40 (AAN 60 L 40 ), representing low-volume, balanced, and high-volume binder combinations. Water absorption, weight change, and compressive strength were examined. The microstructural changes were also investigated using FTIR, XRD, and SEM/EDS characterization tools. Visual examination showed insignificant deterioration in the sample with excess natural pozzolan (AAN 60 L 40 ) after 1 year of acid exposure, and the maximum residual strengths were 20.8 MPa and 6.68 MPa in AAN 60 L 40 and AAN 40 L 60 with mass gain (1.37%) and loss (10.64%), respectively. The high sulfuric acid resistance of AAN 60 L 40 mortar was attributed to the high Ca/Si = 10 within the C-A-S-H and N-A-S-H formed. The low residual strength recorded in AAN 40 L 60 was a result of gypsum formation from an acid attack of calcium-dominated limestone powder. The controlling factor for the resistance of the binder to acid corrosion was the NP/LSP ratio, whose factor below 0.6 caused significant debilitating effects.

Keywords: natural pozzolan; limestone powder; acid resistance; sulfuric acid; alkali activation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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