Sodium

Molar concentration

Curing (chemistry)

Metallurgy

Materials science

Sodium hydroxide

Ultimate tensile strength

Slag (welding)

Silicate

Inorganic chemistry

Hydroxide

Organic chemistry

Ground granulated blast-furnace slag

Cement

Alkali metal

Fly ash

Young's modulus

Composite material

Blast furnace

Sodium silicate

Chemistry

Compressive strength

Construction and Building Materials

This research work aims to study the factors affecting the mechanical properties of alkali activated blast furnace slag concrete. The mechanical properties studied herein were, compressive strength, tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. Five factors each at three levels were considered throughout this research. The effect of sodium hydroxide molarity (10, 12 and 14 M), alkaline solution/slag content (0.40, 0.45 and 0.50), curing temperature (30 °C, 60 °C, 90 °C), curing time (1, 2 and 3 days) and sodium hydroxide: sodium silicate mass ratio (1:1.75, 1:2.50 and 1:3.25) were considered throughout the research program. The fractional factorial method of experimentation was used through the experimental program to reduce the number of mixes. The results generally showed that the increase in sodium hydroxide molarity and sodium hydroxide to sodium silicate enhanced all of the mechanical properties, while the increase in alkaline solution/slag, curing temperature has adversely affected the alkali activated slag concrete. The best results of curing time has been achieved when the curing period is 2 days.

Factors affecting the mechanical properties of alkali activated ground granulated blast furnace slag concrete