The Effect of Different Drying Environments

on Microcracking in Alkali-Activated Slag

Kris%na Benne+, Antoine E. Morandeau, Claire E. White

Results

Background
Cement production is responsible for about 5%
of CO2 emissions (Worrell et al., 2001)
Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) are low CO2
alternatives to ordinary Portland cement
(OPC).
Certain AAMs (slag-based) are prone to
microcracking.
Previous investigations have revealed that the
chemical activator influences microcracking
(Mihalik, 2014), with silicate activators
(Na2SiO3) being the most prone.

Low Mg slag

Original

Discussion

In 3 of the 4 drying environments, high Mg slag samples are more prone to

cracking (larger crack surface area). For the environments in which the high
Mg slag cracked more, the difference in crack surface area is less than 3%.

Methods
1. Pastes synthesized using Na2SiO3 solution and
different slags (high and low Mg).

o water to slag ratio = 0.5

o weight percent of Na2O = 7%

2. All samples were isolated from the
environment (cured) for 24 hours.

3. After curing, samples were dried for 8 hours in
ambient and CO2 environments and analyzed
using a mass balance (weight change) and a
microscope (crack quantification).



4. MATLAB program was used to convert
microscope images to crack area percentages.

Acknowledgements:

A;er image processing

High Mg slag

Objective
Quantify microcracking in alkali-activated
slags as a function of (i) the drying
environment (relative humidity, CO2
concentration) and (ii) slag type (Mg
content).

Black & white

As seen on the graph, the sample exposed to the highest CO2

concentration (10.0% CO2) lost the least mass (0.580%) in the 8 hour
drying period. Conversely the sample exposed to the lowest CO2
(0.3% CO2) concentration lost the most mass (3.380%).

% Mass Loss

MRSEC NSF DMR 0819860 (PI: Prof. N. Phuan Ong)

REU Site Grant: NSF DMR-1156422 (PI: Prof. Mikko Haataja)
Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment

The sample exposed to the highest CO2 concentration (10.0%) lost

2.395% of its mass while the one exposed to 1.0% CO2 lost 5.158%.
The 0.3% carbonation lost 4.31% mass immediately prior to the
sudden decline attributed to an external influence.

0.3% CO2

1.0% CO2

10.0% CO2

Low Mg Slag

3.380%

2.594%

0.580%

High Mg Slag

8.333%

5.158%

2.395%

High Mg slag samples cracked more extensively

in 3 of 4 drying environments, both under
ambient and CO2 conditions

The samples exposed to the highest CO2
concentration consistently retained most mass

CO2 reacts with (i) hydrotalcite in paste
(Mg-based phase), and (ii) Ca in C-A-SH gel to form CaCO3.

Higher concentrations of CO2 allow for
more CO2 to be incorporated in
hydrotalcite and CaCO3.

Initial mass loss due to drying partially
was recovered via CO2 uptake.

Irrespective of the CO2 concentration, high Mg
slag pastes lost the most mass.

Possible contributing factors: porosity,
rate of drying, kinetics of CO2 uptake in
phases, pore blockage

References
Mihalik, Jarred. Exploring microcracking in slag-based alkali-activated cements
(2014). Senior thesis, Princeton University.



Worrell, E., Price, L., Martin, N., Hendriks, C., and Meida, L. O. (2001). Carbon
dioxide emissions from the global cement industry. Annual Review of Energy
and the Environment, Volume 26, pp. 303-329.