German University in Cairo

CIS 401: Material Properties and Testing II

CIS 401:
Material Properties and
Testing II

Agenda
➢ Introduction to Mineral admixtures
➢ Types of Mineral Admixtures
➢ Fly Ash
➢ Slag
➢ Silica fume
➢ Pozzolans
➢ Effect of mineral admixtures on fresh-state concrete
➢ Effect of mineral admixtures on hardened state concrete
➢ Chemical composition of several mineral admixtures
➢ Fly ash influences on several properties
➢ Mineral Admixtures influence durability
➢ ECP 203 specifications and requirements

1
 Introduction to Mineral admixtures

Fly ash, Slag, Silica fume, and Natural

Pozzolans

Types of Mineral admixtures

Supplementary Cementitious Admixtures
➢ Several by products of other industries have been used in concrete as
supplementary cementitious admixtures.
These additives or admixtures can be used:
➢ to improve some properties of concrete (addition).
➢ to reduce the problem of discarding them (partial replacement)
➢ Four well known supplementary cementitious materials are as following:
1) fly ash
2) ground granulated blast furnace slag
3) silica fume
Cement Natural
4) natural pozzolans. Pozzolan Deposits

2
 SEM of fly ash particles
at 1000x
Fly Ash

➢ Fly ash is the most commonly used pozzolan in civil engineering structures. Fly ash is a
by-product of the combustion of pulverized coal used in electric power generating
plants. During combustion, the coal’s mineral impurities (such as clay fledspar, quartz,
and shale) fuse though the combustion chamber with exhaust gases. It is collected
through the filter bags or by electrostatic precipitators
➢ Spherical glassy Particle diameters range from less than 1 µm to more than 0.1 mm (100
µm ), with an average of 0.015 mm to 0.020 mm, and are 70% to 90% smaller than 0.045
mm.
➢ The surface area is typically 300 to 500 m2/kg, although some fly ashes can have surface
areas as low as 200 m2/kg and as high as 700 m2/kg. Bulk density reach (without
compaction) ranges from 540 to 860 kg/m3 (with compaction) 1120 to 1500 kg/m3

Fly Ash
➢ Fly ash is primarily a silica glass composed of silica alumina iron oxide and
lime (CaO). Minor constituents are magnesium, sulfur, sodium, potassium, and
carbon. The specific gravity ranges between 1.9 and 2.8. The color is generally
gray or tan.
➢ Fly ash is classified into several classes according to ASTM C618. Class F and
Class C fly ashes are commonly used as pozzolanic admixtures for general-
purpose concrete. Type F materials (15 – 25% replacement by mass) generally
(low calcium; less than 10% Cao) with carbon ranges between 5 and 10%. Type
C materials (15 – 40% replacement by mass) are generally (high in calcium;
higher than 10 – 30 % Cao) with carbon contents less than 2%. [Harden very
quickly in less than 45 minutes when exposed to water].

3
 Fly Ash
The fly ash provides the following:
➢ increases the workability of the fresh concrete due their spherical shape.
➢ increasing strength development and reduced porosity through extending the
hydration process
Example:
➢ If we have concrete containing more than 20% fly ash by weight of cement, this
means such a concrete will have a much smaller pore size distribution than
Portland cement concrete without fly ash.
➢ The lower heat of hydration reduces the early strength of the concrete.
➢ The extended reaction permits a continuous gaining of strength beyond what
can be accomplished with plain Portland cement.

SEM of slag particles at 2100x

Slag

➢ Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBF slag) is made from iron blast furnace slag. It is a
non-metallic hydraulic cementious material consisting basically of silicates and aluminosilicates of
calcium, which is developed in a molten condition simultaneously with iron in a blast furnace.
[chilled with water]
➢ The material is then ground to less than 45 microns. The specific gravity of slag cement is in the
range of 2.85 to 2.95.
➢ Ground granulated blast furnace slag commonly constitutes between 30% and 45% of the
cementing material in the mix. Some slag concretes have a slag component of 70% or more of the
cementitious material. [Rough angular shaped need water or activator such NaOH or CaOH].
ASTM C 989 (AASHTO M 302) Classifies slag by its increasing reactivity Grade 80, 100, or 120.
*American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
➢ ASTM C 1073 covers rapid determination of hydraulic activity.
➢ The surface area is typically 400 to 600 m2/kg, Bulk density ranges from 1050 to 1375 kg/m3.
Chilled with air or cooled with air does not have the hydraulic properties of water-cooled slag

4
 SEM of silica fume particles at 20000x

Silica Fume

➢ Silica fume is a by product of the reduction of high purity quartz with coal in electric
furnaces in the manufacture of silicon or ferrosilicon alloys. It rises as an oxidized vapor
from the 2000 °C furnaces. It cool condenses and collected in huge cloth bag. Then
processed to remove the impurities.
➢ One of the most beneficial uses for silica fume is as a mineral admixture in concrete.
Because of its chemical and physical properties, it is a very reactive pozzolan.
➢ Silica fume consists primarily of silicon dioxide (85%) amorphous form
➢ The individual particles are extremely small, approximately 1/100th the size of an
average cement particle. (0.1 μm)
➢ The surface area is typically 20000 m2/kg [Tobacoo smoke’s about 10000 m2/kg]
➢ Relative density (specific gravity) ranges from 2.20 to 2.50.

Silica Fume
➢ Bulk density ranges from 130 to 430 kg/m3
➢ ASTM C 1240 applies.
Silica fume provides the following:
➢ high strength and durable concrete.
➢ It can be added in either forms wet or dry when specified during concrete
production.
➢ reduce concrete corrosion induced by de-icing or marine salts.
➢ highly resistant to penetration by chloride ions specifically by reducing a low
water content
Precautions:
➢ Placing, finishing, and curing silica fume concrete require special attention on
the part of the concrete contractor.

5
 Natural Pozzolans SEM of Pozzolans
particles at 5000x
metakaolin
Clay
shale

➢ A pozzolan is a siliceous and aluminous material which, in itself, possesses little or no

cementitious value but will, in finely divided form and in the presence of moisture, react
chemically with calcium hydroxide at ordinary temperatures to form compounds
possessing cementitious properties (ASTM C595). (Calcined Clay, shale and metakaolin)
➢ calcium hydroxide is one of the products generated by the hydration of C3S and C2S. Up
to 15% of the weight of Portland cement is hydrated lime.
➢ Adding a pozzolan to Portland cement generates an opportunity to convert this free lime
to a cementitious material.
➢ To control temperature rise in mass concrete (dams) and improve the resistance to the
sulfate attack.

Effect of mineral admixtures on fresh-state concrete

6
Effect of mineral admixtures on hardened state concrete

Chemical composition of several mineral admixtures

7
 Fly ash influences on several properties
Water requirements

Fly ash influences on several properties

Setting time for fly ash

8
 Fly ash influences on several properties
Bleeding effect for fly ash

Fly ash influences on several properties

Compressive strength at different

aging for fly ash

9
 Fly ash influences on several properties

Compressive strength at different aging

for fly ash under curing

Fly ash influences on several properties

Abrasion resistance for different

compressive strengths using fly ash
under-curing

10
 Mineral Admixtures influence durability

Freezing and thawing resistance for different mineral admixture

Calcined shale
Fly ash

Portland cement
Slag

Mineral Admixtures influence durability

Alkali silica reactivity for different

pozzolans

11
 Mineral Admixtures influence durability

Alkali silica reactivity for different

pozzolans

ECP 203 specifications and requirements

12
ECP 203 specifications and requirements

ECP 203 specifications and requirements

x ray diffraction analysis

petrographic analysis

13
 ECP 203 specifications and requirements

ECP 203 specifications and requirements

14
?

15