Effects of waste sulfur content on properties of self-compacting concrete

Abstract

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) contains fine mineral fillers such as limestone powder. The idea of this study was to partially replace limestone with waste sulfur since it is hydrophobic, insoluble in water and therefore chemically inert and to compare the properties of produced concrete samples. Fresh concrete proper­ties included: slump-flow, t500, V-funnel time, L-box ratio, segregation ratio, density, and entrained air content. Hardened concrete was tested for compressive, flexural and bond strengths, ultrasonic velocity, dynamic elas­ticity modulus, dynamic Poisson’s ratio, and microstructure. Flowability and segregation increased, while bulk density, compressive and flexural strength, dynamic elasticity modulus and ultrasonic velocity slight declined. Times t500 and V-funnel time, L-box ratio and entrained air changed insignificantly. Considering that all proper­ties should remain or improve in case of waste valorization and the criteria should set to satisfy requirements for SCC, this study proved that all mixtures can be used for structural applications.

NORM waste, cements, and concretes. A review

“…One of the scientifically and technologically viable means of reaching the construction industry's sustainability targets is to reuse or valorise industrial waste/by-products (of widely differing origin and composition) to manufacture building materials, primarily cements and concretes and to added to achive to achive the low-carbon economy in Europe, (4). Such waste/by-products can be used to partially or wholly replace the main components of such materials (5)(6)(7). Their use may mitigate the adverse environmental impact inherent in the energy consumption, use of vast quantities of natural resources and water and emission of greenhouse gases associated with cement and concrete manufacture (8).…”