Fine particulate by-products from mineral and metallurgical industries as filler in cement-based materials

Abstract: The mineral and metallurgical industries produces large amounts of by- products, these materials may be used as filler in concrete. However, before they can be used as filler in concrete their effect on concrete properties, such as strength, cement hydration and rheology has to be evaluated. A test procedure consisting of easy and reliable experimental methods has been developed. Fine particulate by-products have been collected and tested in order to evaluate their effect on concrete properties. Since these materials may contain metal oxides, some experiments have been conducted to estimate the effect of some common metal oxides on cement hydration. When evaluating by-products suitability it is important to obtain more knowledge of the effect of certain physical properties. Limestone fillers with different particle size distribution and origin were characterised and their effect on rheology investigated. To facilitate the use of by-products as filler materials a quality controll method, PaRMAC, was investigated. The developed test method's validity concerning strength, rate of reaction and heat development for one material was first examined in laboratory scale and thenereafter in a full scale experiment. The conclusion of this study is that it is possible to use by-products as filler material in concrete.