The Impact of Composite Alkali Activator on the Mechanical Properties and Enhancement Mechanisms in Aeolian Sand Powder–Aeolian Sand Concrete

Against the backdrop of China’s Western Development Strategy, numerous infrastructure projects are being constructed in desert regions. Utilizing local aeolian sand (AS) as a raw material for concrete production offers significant cost-saving potential but is hindered by challenges such as limited applicability and inadequate mechanical strength of the resulting concrete. To address these limitations, aeolian sand was ground into aeolian sand powder (ASP) and subjected to treatment with single alkali activators (NaOH, Na₂SiO₃) and a composite alkali activator (NaOH + Na₂SiO₃). The treated and untreated ASP was then used to replace 50% of cement by mass for the preparation of aeolian sand powder–aeolian sand concrete (ASPC). Mechanical performance tests and advanced characterization techniques (SEM, TG-DSC, XRD, FTIR, nanoindentation, and NMR) were employed to investigate the effects of different activators on the mechanical properties of ASPC and elucidate the underlying enhancement mechanisms. The results demonstrated that the composite activator outperformed its single-activator counterparts: ASPC-4-6 (incorporating 4% NaOH and 6% Na₂SiO₃) exhibited 16.3–23.1% higher compressive strength and 12.1–17.6% higher splitting tensile strength across all curing ages compared to plain ASPC. Under the influence of OH⁻ from the composite activator, ASP showed more pronounced reductions in potassium feldspar, montmorillonite, and SiO₂ content, accompanied by the formation of C-S-H gel—replacing the amorphous, water-absorbent N-A-S-H generated by single activators. The presence of highly polymerized hydration products and more stable potassium A-type zeolites in ASPC-4-6 led to a reduction in macropore volume, optimization of pore structure, and refinement of the aggregate–mortar inter-facial transition zone. These micro-structural improvements collectively contributed to the significant enhancement of mechanical properties. This study provides novel insights into the large-scale and multi-dimensional utilization of aeolian sand in concrete.