Diatomites from the Iberian Peninsula as Pozzolans
The object of this work is to study and characterize diatomites from the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula to establish their character and quality as natural pozzolans. This research carried out a morphological and chemical characterization study of the samples using SEM and XRF. Subsequently, the...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Materials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/10/3883 |
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| author | Jorge L. Costafreda Domingo A. Martín Beatriz Astudillo Leticia Presa José Luis Parra Miguel A. Sanjuán |
| author_facet | Jorge L. Costafreda Domingo A. Martín Beatriz Astudillo Leticia Presa José Luis Parra Miguel A. Sanjuán |
| author_sort | Jorge L. Costafreda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The object of this work is to study and characterize diatomites from the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula to establish their character and quality as natural pozzolans. This research carried out a morphological and chemical characterization study of the samples using SEM and XRF. Subsequently, the physical properties of the samples were determined, including thermic treatment, Blaine particle finesse, real density and apparent density, porosity, volume stability, and the initial and final setting times. Finally, a detailed study was conducted to establish the technical properties of the samples through chemical analysis of technological quality, chemical analysis of pozzolanicity, mechanical compressive strength tests at 7, 28, and 90 days, and a non-destructive ultrasonic pulse test. The results using SEM and XRF show that the samples are composed entirely of colonies of diatoms whose bodies are formed by silica between 83.8 and 89.99% and CaO between 5.2 and 5.8%. Likewise, this indicates a remarkable reactivity of the SiO<sub>2</sub> present in both natural diatomite (~99.4%) and calcined diatomite (~99.2%), respectively. Sulfates and chlorides are absent, while the insoluble residue portion for natural diatomite is 1.54% and 1.92% for calcined diatomite, values comparatively lower than the standardized 3%. On the other hand, the results of the chemical analysis of pozzolanicity show that the samples studied behave efficiently as natural pozzolans, both in a natural and calcined state. The mechanical tests establish that the mechanical strength of the mixed Portland cement and natural diatomite specimens (52.5 MPa) with 10% PC substitution exceeds the reference specimen (51.9 MPa) after 28 days of curing. In the case of the specimens made with Portland cement and calcined diatomite (10%), the compressive strength values increase even more and exceed the reference specimen at both 28 days (54 MPa) and 90 days (64.5 MPa) of curing. The results obtained in this research confirm that the diatomites studied are pozzolanic, which is of vital importance because they could be used to improve cements, mortars, and concrete, which translates to a positive advantage in the care of the environment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:32:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fb4923f413cc494690a1be9cc0e654cb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:32:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
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| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-fb4923f413cc494690a1be9cc0e654cb2023-11-18T02:17:41ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442023-05-011610388310.3390/ma16103883Diatomites from the Iberian Peninsula as PozzolansJorge L. Costafreda0Domingo A. Martín1Beatriz Astudillo2Leticia Presa3José Luis Parra4Miguel A. Sanjuán5Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Minas y Energía, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, C/Ríos Rosas, 21, 28003 Madrid, SpainEscuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Minas y Energía, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, C/Ríos Rosas, 21, 28003 Madrid, SpainLaboratorio Oficial para Ensayos de Materiales de Construcción (LOEMCO), C/Eric Kandell, 1, 28906 Getafe, SpainEscuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Minas y Energía, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, C/Ríos Rosas, 21, 28003 Madrid, SpainEscuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Minas y Energía, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, C/Ríos Rosas, 21, 28003 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Science and Technology of Building Materials, Civil Engineering School, Technical University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainThe object of this work is to study and characterize diatomites from the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula to establish their character and quality as natural pozzolans. This research carried out a morphological and chemical characterization study of the samples using SEM and XRF. Subsequently, the physical properties of the samples were determined, including thermic treatment, Blaine particle finesse, real density and apparent density, porosity, volume stability, and the initial and final setting times. Finally, a detailed study was conducted to establish the technical properties of the samples through chemical analysis of technological quality, chemical analysis of pozzolanicity, mechanical compressive strength tests at 7, 28, and 90 days, and a non-destructive ultrasonic pulse test. The results using SEM and XRF show that the samples are composed entirely of colonies of diatoms whose bodies are formed by silica between 83.8 and 89.99% and CaO between 5.2 and 5.8%. Likewise, this indicates a remarkable reactivity of the SiO<sub>2</sub> present in both natural diatomite (~99.4%) and calcined diatomite (~99.2%), respectively. Sulfates and chlorides are absent, while the insoluble residue portion for natural diatomite is 1.54% and 1.92% for calcined diatomite, values comparatively lower than the standardized 3%. On the other hand, the results of the chemical analysis of pozzolanicity show that the samples studied behave efficiently as natural pozzolans, both in a natural and calcined state. The mechanical tests establish that the mechanical strength of the mixed Portland cement and natural diatomite specimens (52.5 MPa) with 10% PC substitution exceeds the reference specimen (51.9 MPa) after 28 days of curing. In the case of the specimens made with Portland cement and calcined diatomite (10%), the compressive strength values increase even more and exceed the reference specimen at both 28 days (54 MPa) and 90 days (64.5 MPa) of curing. The results obtained in this research confirm that the diatomites studied are pozzolanic, which is of vital importance because they could be used to improve cements, mortars, and concrete, which translates to a positive advantage in the care of the environment.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/10/3883diatomitemortarscalcinationpozzolanicitymechanical strength |
| spellingShingle | Jorge L. Costafreda Domingo A. Martín Beatriz Astudillo Leticia Presa José Luis Parra Miguel A. Sanjuán Diatomites from the Iberian Peninsula as Pozzolans Materials diatomite mortars calcination pozzolanicity mechanical strength |
| title | Diatomites from the Iberian Peninsula as Pozzolans |
| title_full | Diatomites from the Iberian Peninsula as Pozzolans |
| title_fullStr | Diatomites from the Iberian Peninsula as Pozzolans |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diatomites from the Iberian Peninsula as Pozzolans |
| title_short | Diatomites from the Iberian Peninsula as Pozzolans |
| title_sort | diatomites from the iberian peninsula as pozzolans |
| topic | diatomite mortars calcination pozzolanicity mechanical strength |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/10/3883 |
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