Activated Slag Concrete Mixing for Workability and Early Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing activated slag concretes lack the performance qualities necessary for use as structural concrete, including sufficient fluidity, short-term mechanical strength, long-term mechanical strength, robustness, and resistance to water content and temperature variations, making them unsuitable for construction applications.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the preparation of an activated slag concrete by mixing a premix of water and aggregates at a controlled temperature with an activation system comprising a cobinder, chelating agent, alkali metal carbonate, and carbonate material, followed by incorporation of slag, using a forced-action mixer to achieve a fresh concrete with improved properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If activated slag is used as binder replacement for cement, then carbon footprint is reduced, but fluidity and workability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the temperature of the premix (water and aggregates) to be at least 10°C, preferably 15°C, before incorporating the activation system and slag. This temperature parameter modification enables the activated slag to maintain sufficient fluidity and workability while achieving the desired low carbon footprint.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If activated slag concrete is used, then environmental impact is reduced, but short-term mechanical strength is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the temperature parameter of the premix to at least 10°C, which accelerates the hydration reaction of activated slag and significantly improves short-term mechanical strength development, allowing the concrete to reach sufficient strength for structural use while maintaining low environmental impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite activation system comprising multiple components (cobinder, chelating agent, alkali metal carbonate, and carbonate material) that work synergistically with activated slag to enhance early-age strength while preserving the environmental benefits of using activated slag as the primary binder.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If activated slag concrete is used, then carbon emissions are reduced, but robustness against water content and temperature variations is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies that the premix temperature should be at least 10°C, preferably 15°C, which optimizes the reaction kinetics of activated slag and enhances the concrete's robustness against variations in water content and temperature, while maintaining low carbon emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates multiple control parameters including temperature, water content, and mixing duration, creating a feedback-controlled process that ensures consistent performance and reliability of activated slag concrete under varying construction conditions while preserving its low carbon footprint.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional mixing process is used for activated slag concrete, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but performance qualities are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies key process parameters including premix temperature (at least 10°C), mixing duration, and the sequential addition of activation system components, which significantly improves performance qualities while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent requires preparing a premix of water and aggregates at controlled temperature before incorporating the activation system and slag. This preliminary action ensures optimal conditions for the subsequent reaction, improving overall performance while adding minimal complexity to the manufacturing process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The process enhances the workability time, fluidity, early-age strength, and robustness of the concrete, allowing it to be used as structural concrete with sufficient mechanical strength and resistance to environmental variations, while maintaining low carbon emissions.
Implementation Method 1
an activation system A comprising at least one cobinder, a chelating agent, an alkali metal carbonate and a carbonate material distinct from said alkali metal carbonate
Implementation Method 2
An activated slag is a slag to which at least one activator is added, making it possible to accelerate the reaction of the slag with water
Data Source
AI summary
Method for manufacturing a concrete from activated slag, comprising at least the steps consisting of: a) arranging a premixture P of water and granulates, the temperature of the premixture P being at least equal to 10° C., b) arranging an activation system A comprising at least a co-binder, a chelating agent, an alkali metal carbonate and a carbonated material different from the alkali metal carbonate, c) incorporating the activation system A and a slag S by mixing them into the premixture P, the activation system A and slag S being introduced successively and/or simultaneously, d) continuing the mixing until a fresh concrete is obtained, and e) allowing the fresh concrete to cure.