STUDY OF ALKALI ACTIVATED PHOSPHOROUS SLAG CONCRETE MIXES

MR CHANDAN N SWARAJ a, DR MITHUN BM b

aPG Scholar, Nitte (Deemed to be University), NMAM Institute of Technology, Department of Civil Engineering, Nitte, India

bAssistant Professor, Nitte (Deemed to be University), NMAM Institute of Technology, Department of Civil Engineering, Nitte, India

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Abstract

Alkali activated material (AAM) is being investigated extensively as a substitute for cement in concrete
mixtures because of its potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by utilising industrial waste. When
producing yellow phosphorous using an electric furnace, phosphorous slag (PS) is an industrial waste
product that can partially replace ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The major goal of this work is to
employ PS as a binder ingredient to create alkali-activated cement. This paper presents a review to
evaluate the strength performance of Alkali Activated Phosphorous Slag (AAPS) mixtures. The specifics
of every experiment carried out during the current inquiry are described in this publication. Results of
preliminary investigations, the design of AAS concrete mixes, the technique used, the production of test
specimens, and the methods of tests carried out on AAPSC mixes, both in fresh and hardened states,
are addressed.

Keywords: Alkali activated slag, Phosphorous Slag, Strength of the materials, concrete mixes.

1.INTRODUCTION ongoing growth. In order to reinforce and

restore existing infrastructure quickly, it is
Concrete is a composite material made of
therefore of secondary importance to prepare
coarse and fine aggregate that is placed in a
new rapid repair materials with high early
matrix and joined by a binder that fills the gaps
strength. The introduction of mineral
or voids between the aggregates. Concrete is
components improved the early strength and
essentially a combination of binder, water,
work performance of phosphorous slag-based
aggregates, and additives. OPC, which is
cementations material used in this study silica
typically utilised as a binder in the creation of
fume retarder and retarder. Three strength
concrete, is primarily in charge of the material's
degrees of PS-based concrete specimens were
mechanical strength. Alkali activated material
created to test the material's mechanical and
(AAM) is being investigated extensively as a
physical properties, and the microstructure of
substitute for cement in concrete mixtures
the material was studied using the scanning
because it has the potential to reduce
electronic microscope. The major goal of this
greenhouse gas emissions by utilising industrial
work is to employ PS as a binder ingredient to
waste Phosphorous (PS) is a by-product of the
create alkali-activated cement. This paper
production of yellow phosphorous using an
presents a review to evaluate the strength
electric furnace that can partially replace
performance of Alkali Activated Phosphorous
ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The pinnacle
Slag (AAPS) mixtures. The characteristics of
of infrastructure construction in our country will
cement, alkali activated slag, and the PS mix
soon give way to a time of extensive
fraction were investigated.
reinforcement due to the social economy's

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2. LITERATURE REVIEW
THOMAS R J
“Alkali activated concrete”(2015)
Since the 1800s, regular Portland Cement
Concrete has been utilised extensively.
According to research, each tonne of cement
produced emits around 0.84 tonnes of carbon
dioxide into the atmosphere, both directly
during decomposition and indirectly due to the
energy required for manufacturing.
HOJJATOHALLA
“Alkali activation kinetics of phosphorous
slag cement using compressive strength
data” (2015)
To predict the mechanical behaviour of alkali
activated cement at various curing times, it is
important to understand the kinetics and order
of alkali activation.
structural and pavement quality concrete
mixes.
KWANG MYONG LEE (2017)
“Flexural and Shear behaviour of reinforced
alkali activated concrete beams”
The findings demonstrate that the reinforced
AAS concrete members' flexural and shear
behaviour is essentially identical to that of
unreinforced concrete members and
demonstrate the applicability of the traditional
design code while taking into account the
decreased density of slag.
YUNXING DU (2021)
“Flexural behaviour of alkali activated slag
based concrete beams”
The use of alkali-activated concrete in structural
members has received scant research. The
current study examined the flexural behaviour
of concrete beams made of alkali-activated
slag-fly ash and based on performance.

LIU JIUYAN YOUNG CHEELOK

“Preparation of phosphorous slag based “Phosphorous slag supplementary

cementitious material with high early cementitious and alkali activated materials”
strength and its concrete properties” (2016) (2022)

The experimental PSBCM concrete qualities The purpose of the current work is to create
showed that this concrete had a high early alkali-activated cement using phosphorous slag
strength and that it was easier to work with than as a raw material.
Portland cement concrete of the same strength
grade.
Dr MITHUN BM
“Performance of alkali activated slag
concrete mixes incorporating copper slag
as fine aggregate” (2017)
The project's primary goal is to demonstrate
that CS aggregate may be used as a substitute
for fine aggregates in alkali activated concrete
mixes for acceptable performance in both

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3. OBJECTIVES When producing yellow phosphorous using an
The following are the primary goals of the electric furnace, phosphorous slag (PS) is an
current research project: industrial waste product that can partially
•An evaluation of the concrete's strength replace ordinary Portland cement (OPC).
performance when using AASC mixes with
For the various tests conducted in the present
phosphorous slag as an alternate binder
investigation, PS conforming to IS
•To investigate the AASC's durability
performance when used as a substitute to 4.1.3 Aggregates
cement in chloride-, sulphate-, and acid-rich
All of the aggregates utilised here were tested
environments.
in accordance with the applicable Indian
•To look into how well AASC mixes performing
standard codes. As coarse material, crushed
in terms of strength while using phosphorous
granite chips with a maximum nominal size of
slag as an alternative binder in concrete.
20 mm were employed.
•To investigate how well AASC mixes that use
phosphorous slag as an alternative binder for 4.1.4 Water
concrete perform under flexural fatigue.
To prepare the alkaline activator solution and to
Therefore, the goal of this study is to determine
mix the AAPS concrete mixes, tap water from
whether using more phosphorous slag as an
the institute's laboratory was used.
alternative binder in concrete for AASC
combinations is feasible. 4.1.5 Super-plasticizer

4. METHODOLOGY In the current study, a high-range water-

reducing admixture based on Sulfonated
The specifics of every experiment carried out
Naphthalene Formaldehyde (SNF)-polymer
throughout the current research are detailed in
was used as a superplasticizer.
this chapter. Results of preliminary
investigations, the design of AAS concrete 4.2 CONCRETE MIX DESIGN

mixes, the technique used, the production of The prospective AAPSC mixes for use in the
test specimens, and the methods of testing durability studies were chosen based on the
carried out on AASC mixes, both in fresh and presumption of extreme exposure conditions.
hardened states, are addressed. Therefore, a mix-grade of M45, which

4.1 PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS ON corresponds to a reference compressive

CONSTITUENT MATERIALS strength that is just slightly higher, was selected

for the design of the mixes. This grade was
4.1.1 Cement
chosen to test the efficacy of AASC mixes and
The most crucial component of a concrete mix to replicate a typical strength for site-mixed
is cement. Phosphorous slag is used as a concrete.
binder material and tests are conducted in the
current study.

4.1.2 Phosphorous Slag (PS)

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4.3 MIXING, PLACING AND COMPACTING
THE CONCRETE MIXES
Using a 125 kg ribbon mixer, the following
procedures were followed for mixing the
components of the concrete:
a) Dry mixing for about 30 seconds of the
materials added to the mixer in the following
order: coarse aggregate, sand, and PS.
b) During the subsequent 30 seconds, water
that had already been mixed with a super-
plasticizer or an alkaline solution, depending on
the scenario, was added. The mixing process
was then maintained for a further two minutes.
c) The mixer was shut off, the mixture was
poured out, and the slump was gauged.
c) The mixing took around three minutes in
total.
e) Following the mix's placement in prepared
moulds with their interior surfaces well-oiled,
the moulds were crushed on a table vibrator.
4.4 CURING OF SPECIMENS
The test samples for AAPSC mixes were cured
in ambient air laboratories at a temperature of
27 to 30 C and a relative humidity of 85 to 10%.
AAPSCC-mix concrete test specimens
underwent a predetermined number of days of
curing in a curing water tank.
4.5 EXPERIMENTALPROCEDURES
4.5.1 Workability
The standard Abraham's slump cone was used
to measure the levels of workability of the mixes
in the current experiment. Testing was done in
accordance with IS 1199-1959.
4.5.2 Mechanical Properties of Concrete Mixes
Three duplicate samples of each blend were
examined using calibrated testing equipment.
On concrete cylinders of all mixes, cube
compression tests, flexural strength (on
prisms), and modulus of elasticity tests were
carried out in accordance with the instructions
in IS 516-1959, while split-tensile strength tests
on cylindrical specimens were carried out in
accordance with the guidelines in IS 5816-
1999. At certain ages, tests were given.
4.5.3 Total porosity and water absorption of
AASC mixtures Based on the outcomes of tests
carried out in accordance with AASTM's
standard protocol, total porosity and water
absorption were estimated.
5. CONCLUSION
Because these new materials may be produced
to be cost-competitive to Ordinary Portland
Cement (OPC) based concrete mixes, while
exhibiting superior chemical, mechanical, and
durability capabilities, and with a lower carbon
footprint, they are of great interest for research
and development. The goal of the current work
is to report the results of in-depth research on
the suitability of phosphorous slag as an
aggregate and a binder for making these
concrete mixtures. The goal of the current
research is to determine whether APSCC mixes
can be developed to have the necessary
strength and durability properties for both
potential application in non-structural and
structural concrete elements.
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