Hardening Cement Conglomerates by Mining Industries Waste

Abstract

About 3.5 billion tons of mining waste is generated annually in Russia. The task of their utilization is urgent in connection with the accumulation of large-tonnage waste of simultaneously mined rocks, enrichment waste and crushing screenings. The problem can be solved by using these wastes as mineral additives to artificial cement-based conglomerates. According to the study results it was found, that the compressive strength of hardened cement paste increased during all hardening periods, when finely dispersed mining wastes were introduced. In the early stages of hardening, limestone had a predominant effect. Introduction of diopside led to the greatest hardening together with the hardening period increase. Linear and nonlinear mathematical models, describing the dependence of cement strength on the type and amount of mineral additives, were constructed. The highest strength values of hardened cement paste, both after hardening under normal conditions for 28 days, and after heat and moisture treatment could be achieved with 7% dispersed diopside. At the same time, the hardening effect (increase in the strength of cement by 35–40%) was retained when 1/3 of the diopside in the complex additive was replaced by dispersed limestone. An increase in the content of limestone in the complex additive composition over 1/3 was impractical.