Carbonatized Blast-Furnace Slag Clinker Substitution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to effectively utilize air-cooled blast-furnace slag and similar crystalline materials as supplementary cementitious materials without requiring excessive energy or economic effort, as they are typically inert and do not contribute significantly to cement strength.
Innovation Solution
The transformation of air-cooled blast-furnace slag into a reactive supplementary cementitious material through carbonatization, increasing its X-ray amorphous portion and carbonated calcium and magnesium content, allowing it to be used as a clinker substitute in hydraulic binders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If air-cooled blast-furnace slag is used as supplementary cementitious material, then it can reduce clinker content and CO2 emissions, but it has low reactivity and does not contribute significantly to cement strength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the physical and chemical properties of air-cooled blast-furnace slag through controlled carbonatization. The process modifies the slag's reactivity parameters by creating specific carbonate phases (calcite, aragonite, magnesite) that enhance its cementitious performance, enabling it to contribute significantly to strength development while maintaining low clinker content
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material system by combining carbonated slag phases with cement matrix. The carbonated slag contains multiple carbonate minerals (calcite, aragonite, magnesite) that work synergistically with cement hydrates to form a composite binder system, improving overall strength while reducing clinker requirements
2Use of energy by moving object
If crystalline slag is used to reduce energy consumption, then it avoids high-temperature processing, but it lacks hydraulic reactivity and cannot function as effective supplementary cementitious material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transitions in the carbonatization process, where gaseous CO2 reacts with crystalline slag phases to form solid carbonate minerals. This phase transition from gas to solid creates hydraulicly active carbonate phases that provide both energy efficiency and reliable hydraulic reactivity, transforming inert crystalline slag into functional supplementary cementitious material
Solution Approach 2:
The carbonatization process acts as an intermediary transformation, converting crystalline slag into carbonated slag through chemical reaction with CO2. This intermediary process creates the necessary hydraulic reactivity in the slag without requiring high-temperature processing, thus bridging the gap between energy efficiency and functional performance
3Strength
If ground granulated blast-furnace slag is used, then it provides good hydraulic properties and strength, but it requires rapid cooling and water granulation which increases energy input and creates environmental issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the typically harmful effect of water granulation (energy consumption and environmental pollution) into a beneficial process by using carbonatization with CO2. The CO2 carbonatization process occurs at lower temperatures without requiring water quenching, thereby eliminating the energy loss and environmental issues associated with water granulation while maintaining the strength benefits of slag utilization
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical water granulation system with a chemical carbonatization system. Instead of using water to cool and granulate the slag (mechanical/thermal process), the process uses chemical reaction with CO2 to transform the slag phases, eliminating the need for water quenching and associated energy consumption and environmental problems
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
This process reduces energy requirements, decreases CO2 emissions, and enhances the compressive strength development of cement mixes, making it a viable and eco-friendly alternative for cement production.
Implementation Method 1
transformation of air-cooled blast-furnace slag into a reactive supplementary cementitious material through carbonatization, increasing its X-ray amorphous portion
Implementation Method 2
carbonatization of the precursor material to provide the supplementary cementitious material... increasing the amount of carbonated calcium and magnesium
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a supplementary cementitious material, a method for producing the supplementary cementitious material, the use of the supplementary cementitious material, a binder comprising the supplementary cementitious material, a method for the preparation of the binder and use of the binder to make hydraulic building materials like concrete.