Influence of Metakaolin on the Performance of Mortars and Concretes

Authors: M. Si-Ahmed, A. Belakrouf, S. Kenai

Abstract:

The use of additions in cement in manufacturing, mortar and concrete offers economic and ecological advantages. Cements with additions such as limestone, slag and natural pouzzolana are produced in cement factories in Algeria. Several studies analyzed the effect of these additions on the physical and mechanical properties as well as the durability of concrete. However, few studies were conducted on the effect of local metakaolin on mechanical properties and durability of concrete. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the performance of mortar and concrete with local metakaolin. The preparation of the metakaolin was carried out by calcination of kaolin at a temperature of 850 °C for a period of 3 hours. The experimental results have shown that the rates of substitutions of 10 and 15% metakaolin increases the compressive strength and flexural strength at both early age and long term. The durability and the permeability were also improved by reducing the coefficient of sorptivity.

Keywords: Metakaolin, calcination, compressive strength, durability.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1331725

References:

[1] Guneyisi E. and Mermerdas, E.K. "Comparative study on strength, sorptivity, and chloride ingress characteristics of air-cured and watercured concretes modified with metakaolin" Materials and structures, Vol. 30, N┬░ 10, May 2007. pp. 1161-71.
[2] Fernandez, R.; Martirena, F and Scrivener K. L. "The origin of the pozzolanic activity of calcined clay minerals: A comparison between kaolinite, illite and montmorillonite", Cement and Concrete Research. Volume 41, Issue 1, January 201, pp. 113-122.
[3] Wild S, Khatib J.M. and Jones A, "Relative strength, pozzolanic activity andcement hydration in superplasticised metakaolin concrete", Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 26, N┬░ 10, 1996, pp. 1537-1544.
[4] Ramezanianpour, A.A; Bahrami Jovein, H. "Influence of metakaolin as supplementary cementing material on strength and durability of concretes". Construction and Building materials, Volume 30, 201, .pp. 470-479.
[5] Adamm. Neville «Properties of concrete», Eyrolles Edition; septembre 2000.