The viability of using a SiMn slag as raw material for the preparation of alkali activated binder has been analysed. The slag has been characterized from the physical, chemical, mineralogical and microstructural point of view. The solution used for the alkali activation process was waterglass, which was prepared by the mix of a sodium silicate solution with sodium hydroxide. The influence of the following design parameters in alkali activated pastes has been studied: %Na2O, SiO2/Na2O ratio and activating solution/slag ratio. All the prepared specimens have been cured under a 100% of relative humidity atmosphere and no additives have been included in the formulations. For the evaluation of the alkali activation process a response surface methodology has been adopted by modelling the obtained results for different control parameters. The proposed experimental methodology consisted of a composite cubic-type experimental design which follows 2nd degree polynomial model. The control parameters of the pastes used in this research have been: workability, compressive strength at 7, 28 and 90 days of curing time, setting times and shrinkage at 50% of relative humidity. The results show that it is possible to valorise the SiMn slag through its use as an alkali activated binder. In general, workability decreases as the %Na2O increases and SiO2/Na2O ratio decreases. Initial setting times ranges from 38 to 263 min depending on the activating solution composition, and workability time decreases for increasing %Na2O. A compressive strength higher than 45 MPa can be achieved by the following activating conditions: 4.0-4.5%Na2O, SiO2/Na2O = 1.00 and activating solution/slag = 0.35-0.375. Shrinkage values of pastes that were cured at 50% of relative humidity ranged from 1.5% to 3.0%. Source writing has been changed to 11 points Times New Roman (except in tables, in which a 10 point size has been used) and normal space between characters.3. The relevant information on the shrinkage of hardened pastes should be included in the summary and conclusion part.The following text has been added to the abstract:"Shrinkage values of pastes that were cured at 50% of relative humidity ranged from 1.5% to 3.0%."The following text has been included in the conclusions:"High shrinkage values have been registered for all pastes in the 50% RH ambient. In these conditions, shrinkage achieves a stable value after 30 days. Shrinkage levels have ranged from 1.5% to 3.0% approximately and its maximum value is observed for s/s ratio around 0.38 and 4.5% Na 2 O in pastes with Ms = 1.00." The English writing should be greatly improved. In the following examples, word errorsWe apologize for the high number of grammatical errors that have been included in the text. Many of them are just a consequence of a lack of attention in the manuscript elaboration. The new version of the manuscript has been carefully revised.Reviewer #2:1. This article should be discussed by studying different aspects with previous studies. The results and the discussion part ...

No abstract

h i g h l i g h t s SiMn slag has been implemented as substrate for alkali activated mortars. Two types of alkali activators have been used: waterglass and sodium hydroxide. Silica sand, limestone and recycled concrete finer fraction have been used as sand. Mortars prepared with silica sand offered the best performance in mechanical tests.

The corrosion process of steel reinforcements embedded in alkali activated SiMn slag mortars was investigated. NaOH and waterglass were used as alkali activators of SiMn slag. The steel reinforced mortars were subjected to two aggressive environments: carbonation and chloride ingress. Carbonation progressed quicker for the binder activated with NaOH, decreasing the rate with the concentration. However, during the corrosion of the steels embedded in the mortars, both activators showed a similar behaviour. Mortars prepared with waterglass exhibited higher chloride migration coefficients, which decreased as the activator concentration increased. In a chloride contaminated ambient, steel embedded in mortars prepared with NaOH offered lower corrosion rate levels and it increased with the activator concentration.

La disciplina de la valoración, actualmente, no contempla en sus cálculos un indicador multidimensional de los materiales. Este problema, tiene una especial incidencia en su obtención al imposibilitar evaluar si la calidad “objetiva” de los materiales y la percepción “subjetiva” de esa calidad intrínseca determinan el valor de mercado de los inmuebles. Este artículo busca diseñar un indicador de calidad percibida que cuantifique la percepción o el grado de satisfacción del individuo, e incluya parámetros de medida de los materiales usados en aplicaciones de pavimentos y revestimientos para uso residencial. A tales efectos, se han diseñado dos encuestas para 400 usuarios y 35 expertos y, posteriormente, se han analizado los datos obtenidos y su congruencia. Los resultados muestran que en general existe un grupo de materiales versátiles percibidos desde el punto de vista de la calidad, tanto por usuarios como por expertos, para todas las aplicaciones y ubicaciones del material. Los hallazgos alcanzados son relevantes por obtener datos científicos que permiten medir la percepción subjetiva del individuo ante la calidad de los materiales empleados en la construcción de un inmueble. La disciplina de valoració, actualment, no contempla en els seus càlculs un indicador multidimensional dels materials. Aquest problema té una especial incidència en la seva obtenció a l’impossibilitar avaluar si la qualitat “objectiva” dels materials i la percepció “subjectiva” d’aquesta qualitat intrínseca determinen el valor de mercat dels immobles. Aquest article busca dissenyar un indicador de qualitat percebuda que quantifiqui la percepció o el grau de satisfacció de l’individu, i que inclogui paràmetres de mesura dels materials usats en aplicacions de paviments i revestiments per ús residencial. A tals efectes, s’han dissenyat dues enquestes per 400 usuaris i 35 experts i, posteriorment, s’han analitzat les dades obtingudes i la seva congruència. Els resultats mostren que en general existeix un grup de materials versàtils percebuts des del punt de vista de la qualitat, tant per usuaris com per experts, per totes les aplicacions i ubicacions del material. Les troballes aconseguides són rellevants per obtenir dades científiques que permetin mesurar la percepció subjectiva de l’individu front la qualitat dels materials utilitzats en la construcció d’un immoble. The discipline of the appraisal does not foresee at present a multidimensional indicator of the materials for its calculation. This fact has a special incidence in the obtaining of the market value of the real states, as it makes impossible to evaluate the objective quality of the materials and the subjective perception of that intrinsic quality. The aim of this article is to design a multidimensional indicator of perceived quality that quantifies perception or degree of satisfaction in the individual, including parameters of measure in materials used in pavement and coating for residential use. To such effects, two surveys have been designed for 400 users and 35 technicians. These surveys implement the obtained datum and analyse the congruence of them. The results reveal that in general there is a group of versatile materials that are perceived from the point of view of the quality by users as well as by technicians, no matter where the materials were proposed to be applied for or their location.