Use of overburden/mining tailings as raw material for One-Part Alkali Activated Materials
alkali-activated materials, geopolymers, mining tailings, mining sludge, one-part method.
This research evaluates the production of alkali-activated materials (AAM) via the one-part method (OPM), i.e. just add water, as a substitute for the traditional two-part activation method (TPM), in which water and alkaline solutions with high pH are used. The AAM precursor materials are tailings (overburden materials and sludge) from the iron mining activities in the state of Minas Gerais. They will be characterized and thermo-treated in the presence of dry alkaline activators (either Na2SiO3 or Na2CO3). Furthermore, the physical, mechanical and durability properties will be evaluated, as well as the effects on the microstructure. In a second moment, the same precursors will be combined with other aluminosilicates traditionally used in the AAM, i.e. blast furnace slag and metakaolin, in order to optimize activation and improve mechanical performance and durability. The TPM will be used to compare the performance of tailings and sludge activation by the two methods - OPM and TPM, whether or not containing blast furnace slag and metakaolin as activation promoting agents. A final proposal chapter aims to show the development of sustainable mortars by maximizing the use of tailings from mining, i.e. by using tailings and dam sludge as binders and granular tailings as aggregates.