Effects of Hydraulic Materials on the Performance Evolution of Carbonated High-Volume Magnesium Slag Mortars
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Materials
2.2. Sample Preparation and Test Methods
2.2.1. Sample Preparation
2.2.2. Characterization of Reaction Products
- Mineral phases identification: To investigate the mineral phase development of MS composites before and after carbonation, crushed paste samples after 3 days’ standard curing and 7 days’ carbonation curing were tested with Bruker D8 ADVANCE (Cu tube); the scanning range was from 5° to 70°, the scanning speed was set as 0.2 s/step, and the voltage and current during scanning were 40 KV and 40 A, respectively. The mineral phases were identified using Highscore Plus 3.0.
- Thermal gravimetric test: To evaluate the bound water and calcium carbonate formation in the paste samples after 3 days’ standard curing and 7 days’ carbonation curing, the powdered paste samples were tested using STA 449 F1. The test temperature range was from ambient temperature to 1000 °C, and the heating rate was 10 °C/min. Nitrogen was applied as the carrier gas during the test.
2.2.3. Microstructure Identification
- Pore structure of mortars: To evaluate the pore size distribution of mortars after 3 days’ standard curing and 7 days’ carbonation curing, crushed mortar fractions with size of 2–8 mm were prepared and tested using MicroActive AutoPore V 9600 (Micromertics).
- Morphology of reaction products: To identify the morphology of reaction products in mortars before and after carbonation, crushed MS-blended mortars with AAM, CSA, and OPC were prepared. The morphology images of reaction products were collected using a scanning electron microscope (Regulus 8100, HITACHI).
2.2.4. Evaluation of Mortar Performance
- Compressive strength test: To evaluate the strength performance evolution of mortars during standard curing and carbonation curing, the compressions of MS-blended mortar cubes were tested using a strength test bench. The cube samples (40 mm × 40 mm × 40 mm) were prepared for compressive strength test according to GB/T 17671-2021 [25]. The average result was collected by testing 6 parts. Mortars after 1 day and 3 days of standard curing and 1, 3, 5, and 7 days of carbonation curing were tested and recorded.
- Mini-slump flow test: The slump-flow of ternary mortars was conducted using the flow table test, according to GB/T 2419-2005 [26]. An average value of two tested diameters was recorded using a standard conical ring.
2.2.5. Development of Carbonation Front
2.2.6. Evaluation of Sustainability
- Sustainability coefficient: The sustainability coefficient (SC) of mortars after carbonation curing was evaluated using the calculation according to [28]. The CO2 emissions per kilogram of OPC, CSA, GBS, sand, and water are 0.85 kg, 0.54 kg, 0.035 kg, 0.004 kg, and 0.0006 kg, respectively [29]. The CO2 emission of MS was calculated as natural limestone; the value was selected as 0.0245 kg.
2.2.7. Leaching Properties
- One batch leaching test: Mortars after 3 days of standard curing and 7 days of carbonation curing were crushed into fractions (<4 mm) for a dynamic leaching process. The distilled water was mixed with mortar fractions with a mass ratio of 10:1, the leaching duration was 24 h, and the shaking frequency was 250 rpm (EN 12457-2) [30]. After the leaching, the leachates were collected using the filter (0.45 μm). Afterward, the filtrates were acidified and tested using ICP-OES.
3. Results
3.1. The Fresh Behavior and Mechanical Performance Evolution of MS-Blended Mortars with Various Hydraulic Materials
3.1.1. Flowability of MS-Blended Mortars with OPC, CSA, and AAM
3.1.2. Mechanical Performance of MS-Blended Mortars with OPC, CSA, and AAM After Carbonation Curing
3.1.3. Pore Structure Evolution of MS Mortars with OPC, CSA, and AAM After Carbonation Curing
3.2. The Carbonation Coefficient of CO2-Cured MS-Blended Mortars
3.2.1. The CO2 Uptake Ability of MS-Blended Binder with OPC, CSA, and AAM
3.2.2. Carbonation Front Development in MS-Blended Mortars with OPC, CSA, and AAM
3.3. The Reaction Products of MS-Based Composites Before and After Carbonation
3.3.1. Mineral Phases Identification of Reaction Products
3.3.2. Thermal Gravimetric Analysis of Reaction Products
3.3.3. Morphology of Reaction Products
3.4. The Sustainability of MS-Based Composites
3.5. Leaching of Hazardous Elements
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
- (1)
- The application of alkali-activated GBS in the preparation of MS mortars resulted in the highest compressive strength of 7.38 MPa compared to CSA (2.72 MPa) and OPC (1.18 MPa) after the hydration stage. After carbonation, the compressive strength of AAM-MS mortar, OPC-MS mortar, and CSA-MS mortar achieved 21.28 MPa, 9.3 MPa, and 51.58 MPa, respectively.
- (2)
- The duration of full carbonation of blended mortar was 1 day, 3 days, and more than 7 days for CSA-, OPC-, and AAM-blended samples, respectively. The CO2 uptake ability achieved 13.82%, 10.85%, and 9.51% by the OPC-, CSA-, and AAM-blended binders, respectively.
- (3)
- The application of CSA in MS-blended mortar contributed to the highest porosity and volume of large pores compared to AAM and OPC. In the carbonated CSA-blended binder, well-crystallized calcite and aragonite were identified. Calcite was the only calcium carbonate polymorph in the carbonated OPC-blended binder, while an amount of poorly crystallized calcite existed in AAM-blended sample.
- (4)
- The leaching of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Pb from carbonated MS mortars satisfied the requirement of National Class I solid wastes. The Hg leaching was slightly higher than the requirement (<50 µg/L). AAM-based binders exhibited a higher ability on the leaching inhibition of Cr, Cu, and Pb.
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Chemical Composition | OPC (%) | MS (%) | CSA (%) | GBS (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Na2O | / | 0.056 | 0.201 | 0.671 |
MgO | 1.712 | 3.29 | 1.455 | 10.847 |
Al2O3 | 3.793 | 1.29 | 38.631 | 19.312 |
SiO2 | 16.188 | 31.35 | 8.178 | 32.526 |
SO3 | 4.055 | 0.089 | 9.259 | 2.500 |
K2O | 0.187 | / | 0.366 | 0.287 |
CaO | 67.968 | 63.43 | 38.285 | 32.365 |
TiO2 | 0.277 | 0.04 | 1.403 | 0.781 |
Cr2O3 | 0.01 | / | 0.035 | 0.748 |
MnO | 0.094 | / | 0.015 | 0.314 |
Fe2O3 | 3.589 | 0.38 | 1.753 | 0.258 |
ZnO | 0.1 | 0.004 | / | / |
Cl | 0.041 | / | 0.067 | / |
Sample ID | OPC (g) | CSA (g) | GBS (g) | MS (g) | Water (g) | Activator (g) | Sand (g) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
OPC | 90 | 0 | 0 | 360 | 225 | 0 | 1350 |
CSA | 0 | 90 | 0 | 360 | 225 | 0 | 1350 |
AAM | 0 | 0 | 90 | 360 | 225 | 36 | 1350 |
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Liu, G.; Liu, S.; Yin, B.; Wang, J. Effects of Hydraulic Materials on the Performance Evolution of Carbonated High-Volume Magnesium Slag Mortars. Buildings 2025, 15, 3062. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15173062
Liu G, Liu S, Yin B, Wang J. Effects of Hydraulic Materials on the Performance Evolution of Carbonated High-Volume Magnesium Slag Mortars. Buildings. 2025; 15(17):3062. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15173062
Chicago/Turabian StyleLiu, Gang, Shichuang Liu, Bohao Yin, and Jianyun Wang. 2025. "Effects of Hydraulic Materials on the Performance Evolution of Carbonated High-Volume Magnesium Slag Mortars" Buildings 15, no. 17: 3062. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15173062
APA StyleLiu, G., Liu, S., Yin, B., & Wang, J. (2025). Effects of Hydraulic Materials on the Performance Evolution of Carbonated High-Volume Magnesium Slag Mortars. Buildings, 15(17), 3062. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15173062