Durability of alkali-activated concrete mixtures – a requirement for success in the market

Author(s): Katja Dombrowski-Daube, Jan Sachl
Paper category: Proceedings
Book title: Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Materials, Systems and Structures (SMSS2019) New Generation of Construction Materials
Editor(s): Marijana Serdar, Nina Štirmer, John Provis
ISBN: 978-2-35158-217-6,
Vol 1. ISBN: 978-2-35158-223-7
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-218-3
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2019
Pages: 165-173
Total Pages: 9
Language : English

Abstract: Alkali activated concrete (AAC) is considered to be an all-around material, meaning it has the theoretical potential to develop a wide variety of different advantages, e.g. low global warming potential (GWP) and low abiotic resource consumption (ARC) due to waste based ingredients, high strength and high resistance to environmental attacks. Durability is often the technical criteria by which customers can be convinced to choose a new type of material. Although AAC can achieve specific properties, these properties are not necessarily obtained by just mixing binder materials (containing reactive aluminates and silicates) with alkaline solutions. In order to meet the requirements for a practical application, the AAC mixtures have to be optimized.
For successful optimization procedures, large-scale investigations have been carried out to understand the correlation of composition, technical parameters, properties, durability, sustainability, and costs. Resistance to freezing and thawing as well as deicing salt is often themost important durability criteria.
It is to stated, that high strength does not necessarily mean high durability. Over-optimizing parameters towards strength might work against high durability and may also drive the costs up. All parameters, including cost, must be kept in mind when developing a product to be successful in the marketplace.

Online publication : 2019
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros) : 0.00