20.500.12556/DiRROS-29765 Micro/meso scale investigations on F-slag sand developed with synergistic use of fly ash and slag The present study propounds development of an artificial sand, with a prime aim of exploring a potential substitute for natural river sand. The artificial sand, named F-Slag sand, within the particle size range of 4.75 − 0.075 mm, is developed with the combined use of fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) as binder solids (BS) blended in proportions of 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, and 50:50. Pelletization, by employing a custom designed disc pelletizer equipment, and geopolymerization, a process of binding and bonding of FA and GGBS particles to form sand size fractions, techniques are adopted to synthesize F-slag sand. Pelletizer speed of 15 rpm, pelletization duration of 10 min, and alkali activator solution to BS ratio of 0.06 are found optimal to produce the sand. A comprehensive micro/meso-analysis, including 3D computed tomography scan, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy are performed on F-slag sand and attempts are made to interpret macro-applications of it. Demonstrably, the synergistic use of GGBS and FA has completely alleviated the need for elevated curing of sand. The gradational analysis revealed that more than 90% of BS are converted into sand size fractions (4.75 − 0.075 mm). F-slag sand exhibited specific gravity of 2.1, water absorption of 17%, permeability 4.2 × 10− 3 cm/sec, angle of internal friction of 38°, and crushing value of 14.8%. In comparison, river sand showed 2.6, 4%, 3.6 × 10− 3 cm/sec, 39° and 6.3% respectively. The loose and compacted bulk densities of F-slag sand are measured at 698 and 991 kg/m3, which are significantly lower vis-à-vis of river sand (1546 and 1728 kg/m3). Micro-analysis confirms dense, well-bonded particles with meso–macroporous connectivity, indicating enhanced mechanical stability and durability. Moreover, leaching and environmental risk analysis affirms that F-Slag sand poses no ecological threat. The outcome of the study, proposition of a novel construction material, elucidates that F-slag sand could be a potential substitute for river sand in building (concrete, mortar, plastering, lightweight structures), mining (mine backfilling) and environmental (drainage & filter) applications. F-Slag sand geopolymer-assisted pelletization artificial fine aggregates fly ash-slag synergy micro-meso scale characterization disc pelletizer agregat iz F žlindre peletizacija geopolimerov umetni drobni agregati sinergija pepela in žlindre karakterizacija na mikro- in mezoskali diskasti peletizator true false true Nature Publishing Group Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik © The Author(s) 2026 Neznano 2026-06-05 04:05:33 2026-06-23 13:01:12 2026-06-24 03:46:06 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2026 0 0 str. [1-14] article no. 12951 Vol. 16 Mar. 2026 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno apc 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 2026-03-10 620.1/.2 2045-2322 10.1038/s41598-026-43476-x 271705603 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-43476-x 0 09aa2199-6083-11f1-9215-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=44743 RAZ_Sekhar_Kummari_2026.pdf RAZ_Sekhar_Kummari_2026.pdf 1 B9EB40BA3B9DCB97157878E7E0B639FA c371b0b897809ae25941667ce03d60b9b57c1d51bc2e5148f49941e3ffd85bbd 8db2fde7-6ef2-11f1-98c5-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=46060 Zavod za gradbeništvo Slovenije 0 0 0