Title:
Investigation on Microstructure of Cement Pastes Made with a By-Product from Primary Aluminum Production
Author(s):
Hang Tran, Victor Brial, Thomas Sanchez, Luca Sorelli, Claudiane Ouellet-Plamondon, David Conciatori, Houshang D. Alamdari, Mario Fafard, Laurent Birry And Martin Beaulieu
Publication:
Symposium Paper
Volume:
349
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
686-695
Keywords:
microstructure, micro-indentation, spent pot lining, SEM, XRD
DOI:
10.14359/51732781
Date:
4/22/2021
Abstract:
Spent pot lining (SPL) is an industrial waste generated from aluminum electrolysis cells. LCLL-ash is the inert by-product coming from the treatment of the SPL refractory fraction at the SPL treatment plant (Jonquière, Canada). LCLL-ash has been ground to the fineness of the cement to substitute a part of cement in cement pastes. However, LCLL-ash contains higher contents of silica and alumina compared to Portland cement, which can affect the composition, the morphology and the mechanical properties of the binder hydrates (e.g. the Calcium-[Aluminum]- Silicate Hydrates, C-[A]-S-H) with an important effect on the durability. This paper focuses on the investigation of the microstructure and the mechanical properties of LCLL blended cement pastes by applying multiple techniques including scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and microindentation at the level of the cement paste. The water-to-binder ratio (w/b) is fixed at 0.35. The effect of the different proportions of LCLL-ash on the microstructural and mechanical properties of blended cement pastes is presented and discussed with relation to the normal Portland cement paste.