Physical and Mechanical Properties of Novel Porous Ecological Concrete Based on Magnesium Phosphate Cement

Utilization Potential of Aerated Concrete Block Powder and Coffee Grounds Ash in Green-Growing Concrete

The purpose of this research is to investigate the utilization potential of recycled powder made from spent coffee grounds (SCGs) and aerated concrete blocks (ACBs) in green-growing concrete. The green-growing concrete is prepared using ACB powder and SCG ash as raw materials instead of 5%, 15%, and 25% and 5%, 10%, and 15% cement, respectively. Then, the two raw materials are compounded with the optimal content. The compressive strength and alkalinity of green-growing concrete at 7d and 28d and the frost resistance after 25 freeze-thaw cycles at 28d are studied. The results showed that the optimum content of ACB powder and SCG ash was 5%. Replacing 5% cement with recycled powder could improve the strength of concrete. The alkalinity of concrete containing ACB powder gradually increased, while the alkalinity of concrete containing SCG ash gradually decreased. The alkalinity of ACB-SCG powder was lower than that of ACB powder but slightly higher than that of SCG ash. The frost resistance of concrete containing ACB powder decreased gradually, and the frost resistance of concrete containing SCG ash increased first and then decreased greatly. The frost resistance of ACB-SCG powder could neutralize that of ACB powder and SCG ash.

Alkalinity Regulation and Optimization of Cementitious Materials Used in Ecological Porous Concrete

Ecological porous concrete (EPC) is one of the novel formulations of concrete with unique phytogenic properties. However, achieving both low alkalinity and high strength in EPC proves challenging due to the inherently high alkalinity of the pore environment, which hinders the growth of the plant and affects its ecological benefits significantly. This research investigated the utilization of 15 types of chemical admixtures and diatomaceous earth as alkali-reducing agents to optimize the properties of silicate cementitious materials for the applications of EPC. To identify the most effective agents, the pH value and compressive strength of the cement paste were adopted as the screening criteria for the selection of the essential alkali-reducing ingredients. Subsequently, a composite approach combining chemical admixtures and DE was employed to explore the synergistic effects on the pH and strength of silicate cementitious materials. The results revealed that a combination of 8% DE, 5% oxalic acid, and 5% iron sulfate functioned effectively and resulted in desirable performance for the concrete. This synergistic blend effectively consumed a large amount of Ca(OH)2, reducing the pH of cement paste to 10.48 within 3 days. Furthermore, the hydration reaction generated C-S-H with a low Ca/Si ratio, leading to a remarkable increase in the compressive strength of the concrete, reaching 89.7 MPa after 56 days. This composite approach ensured both low alkalinity and high strength in silicate cementitious materials, providing a theoretical basis for the application and promotion of EPC in the ecological field.

Study on the Preparation and Properties of Vegetation Lightweight Porous Concrete

The objective of this study is to formulate vegetated light porous concrete (VLPC) through the utilization of various cementing materials, the design of porosity, and the incorporation of mineral additives. Subsequently, the study aims to assess and analyze key properties, including the bulk density, permeability coefficient, mechanical characteristics, and alkalinity. The findings indicate a linear decrease in the volume weight of VLPC as the designed porosity increases. While higher design porosity elevates the permeability coefficient, the measured effective porosity closely aligns with the design values. The examined VLPC exhibits a peak compressive strength of 17.7 MPa and a maximum bending strength of 2.1 MPa after 28 days. Notably, an escalation in porosity corresponds to a decrease in both the compressive and the bending strength of VLPC. Introducing mineral additives, particularly silicon powder, is shown to be effective in enhancing the strength of VLPC. Furthermore, substituting slag sulfonate cement for ordinary cement significantly diminishes the alkalinity of VLPC, resulting in a pH below 8.5 at 28 days. Mineral additives also contribute to a reduction in the pH of concrete. Among them, silica fume, fly ash, fly ash + slag powder, and slag powder exhibit a progressively enhanced alkaline reduction effect.