1. Circularity and longevity of alkali-activated materials : case-study using rock wool as a precursorBarbara Horvat, Sara Tominc, 2025, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) are being envisaged as a future alternative to cements because AAMs (i) can be made solely from locally available secondary raw materials and (ii) because of their low energy consumption during synthesis. However, products that cannot be reused should never enter the market. Therefore, the circular economy viability of AAMs was studied by reusing (alkali-activated) pulverised rock wool in alkali activation synthesis until the theoretically determined limit leading to the efflorescence would be reached. While 25% of the maximal allowed liquid alkali did not offer significant mechanical performance, 50, 75 and 100% of allowed alkali ended up with 15, 20 and 20 MPa, respectively, which is only 5 MPa lower than AAM made with the same technique (pressing) in a one-step approach. Therefore, if the initial AAM does not reach the efflorescence limit, it could still be used as a precursor before it becomes waste.
Keywords: kamena volna, alkalijsko aktivirani materiali, mikrovalovno obsevanje, elektromagnetna dehidracija, krožni modeli, linearni modeli
Published in DiRROS: 16.07.2025; Views: 386; Downloads: 213
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2. Dataset for the research article “Characterization of steel corrosion in alkali-activated mortars using advanced techniques”Nina Gartner, Miha Hren, Tadeja Kosec, Andraž Legat, Mojca Mušič, 2025, complete scientific database of research data Abstract: This dataset supports the investigation of long-term corrosion behaviour of steel in alkali-activated mortars (AAMs), a promising alternative to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). It contains experimental data collected over a one-year exposure period in which steel-reinforced AAMs were subjected to cyclic wetting and drying with a chloride-containing solution. The dataset includes results from three AAM compositions based on fly ash, slag, and metakaolin. Corrosion monitoring was performed using two advanced techniques: coupled multi-electrode array (CMEA) sensors for measuring partial currents, and electrical resistance (ER) sensors for quantifying steel cross-section loss. Additionally, the dataset contains imaging data from X-ray computed microtomography (microCT), as well as photographs of the steel reinforcement after exposure. This comprehensive dataset provides the foundation for the research paper Characterization of steel corrosion in alkali-activated mortars using advanced techniques (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2025.e05165) and enables further studies on corrosion processes in AAMs, supporting the development of advanced monitoring approaches for alternative cementitious materials.
Keywords: korozija, alkalijsko-aktivirani materiali, mreža sklopljenih elektrod, električni uporovni senzor, rentgenska računalniška mikrotomografija, vizualna analiza
Published in DiRROS: 09.06.2025; Views: 374; Downloads: 329
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5. Characterisation of a 3D-printed alkali-activated material based on waste mineral wool at room and elevated temperaturesMajda Pavlin, Barbara Horvat, Romana Cerc Korošec, Rok Capuder, Lidija Korat Bensa, Vilma Ducman, 2024, original scientific article Keywords: recycling, alkalijsko aktivirani materiali, 3D print, mineralna volna
Published in DiRROS: 25.01.2024; Views: 1344; Downloads: 928
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6. Particle size manipulation as an influential parameter in the development of mechanical properties in electric arc furnace slag-based AAMKatja Traven, Mark Češnovar, Vilma Ducman, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: Alkali-activated materials (AAM) have gained recognition as a promising alternative to technical ceramic and building materials owing to the lower energy demands for production and the potential to use slag as a precursor. In the present study, five sets of slag-based AAM pastes were prepared with different particle sizes (fractions d < 63, 63 < d < 90, and 90 < d < 125 μm in different mass ratios) under the same curing regime and using a fixed precursor to activator (water) mass ratio. Precursors and the hardened AAM are evaluated using BET, XRD, XRF, SEM, FTIR, reactivity of precursors by leaching, and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). Chemical analysis indicated only marginal differences among the different-sized fractions of input materials, whereas the BET surface area and reactivity among the precursors differed significantly-smaller particles had the largest surface area, and thus, higher reactivity. The mineralogical differences between the precursors and hardened AAM were negligible. The results revealed that compressive strength was significantly influenced by particle size, i.e., a threefold increase in strength when the particle size was halved. Microstructural evaluation using MIP confirmed that the porosity was the lowest in AAM with the smallest particle size. The low porosity and high reactivity of the fine fractions led to the highest compressive strength, confirming that manipulation of particle size can significantly influence the mechanical properties.
Keywords: alkalijsko aktivirani materiali, žlindra iz obločne peči, mehanska aktivacija, mehanske lastnosti, poroznost, alkali-activated materials (AAM), electric arc furnace steel slag, mechanical activation, mechanical properties, porosity
Published in DiRROS: 22.11.2023; Views: 2238; Downloads: 669
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7. Evaluation of locally available amorphous waste materials as a source for alternative alkali activatorsKatja Koenig, Katja Traven, Majda Pavlin, Vilma Ducman, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: The production of alkali-activated materials with excellent mechanical performance requires the use of waterglass, which has a significant carbon footprint. Such materials can have a lower carbon footprint if we replace water glass with alternative activators sourced from waste. In this study, we assessed the suitability of locally available amorphous waste materials (stone wool, glass wool, bottle glass and cathode-ray tube glass) as a source for the preparation of alternative alkali activators. We quantified the amount of silicon and aluminium dissolved in the activator solutions via inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. The alternative activators were then used to produce alkali-activated fly ash and slag. The compressive strength values of alkali-activated fly ash specimens upon the addition of NaOH, water glass and the most promising alternative activator were 38.98 MPa, 31.34 MPa and 40.37 MPa, respectively. The compressive strength of slag specimens activated with alternative activators with the highest concentration of dissolved silicon (21 g/L) was, however, 70% higher than the compressive strength of slag specimens activated with only 10 M sodium hydroxide. The compressive strength of slag specimens with the addition of the most promising alternative activator was significantly lower (3.5 MPa) than the compressive strength of those that had been activated by commercial water glass (34.3 MPa).
Keywords: alkalijsko aktivirani materiali, alternativni aktivatorji, lastnosti, alkali activated materials/geopolimers, alternative activators, properties
Published in DiRROS: 22.08.2023; Views: 3850; Downloads: 671
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