Activation Potential of Various Activators for Ferronickel Slag Under Steam Curing: Characterization of Hydration Products and Mechanical Properties
Yue Li, Baoliang Li, Haohang Yu, Sahi Wail, Binbin Huo, Yongzhen Cheng, Zejun Liu
TL;DR
This study explores how different activators affect the hydration and strength of ferronickel slag in construction materials under steam curing.
Contribution
The study reveals that Ca-based activators, especially a Ca(OH)2–gypsum composite, outperform Na- or K-based activators in activating ferronickel slag.
Findings
Finer ferronickel slag particles contain amorphous MgO that reacts with Ca-based activators to form hydrotalcite.
Ca(OH)2–gypsum composite shows superior activation performance compared to NaOH or KOH.
KOH activation produces a knotted-fiber-bundle-like K–A–S–H phase that may improve crack resistance.
Abstract
This study investigates the activation potential of various activators for ferronickel slag (FNS) and the associated phase evolution. First, the existing forms of MgO in FNS were identified by analyzing its phase composition across different particle sizes. Subsequently, FNS was activated using six types of activators—Ca(OH)2, CaO, NaOH, KOH, Na2CO3, and a Ca(OH)2–gypsum composite—under steam curing at 80 °C for 7 days. The setting time, fluidity, hydration products, and mechanical properties of the activated systems were systematically examined. The results show that finer water-cooled FNS particles contain abundant amorphous phases, including amorphous MgO, which can react with Ca-based activators to form hydrotalcite—a reaction not observed with Na- or K-based activators. Compared with Na- or K-based activators, Ca-containing activators, particularly the Ca(OH)2–gypsum combination,…
Genes, proteins, chemicals, diseases, species, mutations and cell lines named across the full text — each resolved to its canonical identifier and authoritative record.
Click any figure to enlarge with its caption.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11
Figure 12
Figure 13
Figure 14
Figure 15
Figure 16
Figure 17
Figure 18
Figure 19Peer Reviews
No public reviews on file for this paper yet. If you reviewed it on a platform where reviews are public (OpenReview, ICLR, NeurIPS, ICML), you can paste yours below so the community can read it here.
Videos
No videos yet. Explain this paper in a talk, walkthrough, or lecture? Add one.
Taxonomy
TopicsConcrete and Cement Materials Research · Magnesium Oxide Properties and Applications · Concrete Properties and Behavior