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Performance and sustainability overview of alkali-activated self-compacting concrete

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Abstract

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) has gained huge attention recently due to its high workability which eliminates the need for vibration and makes its placement easier compared to conventional concrete. However, the production of Portland cement (PC) which is the main binder in SCC is energy-intensive and one of the major contributors to the world’s carbon dioxide emission. On the other hand, the use of alkali-activated binders (AABs) in concrete has been reported to reduce the energy consumption and carbon emission of concrete by more than 50%. Therefore, the use of AAB as a binder in SCC can help to achieve an eco-friendlier concrete. This paper gives a short overview of the performance of SCC made with AABs. The effect of various factors on the performance of alkali-activated self-compacting concrete (AASCC) was discussed and a simplified sustainability assessment of AASCC was carried out. Discussions from this paper showed that AASCC with acceptable fresh and hardened properties can be achieved with the proper selection of materials. In addition, the evaluation of the embodied energy and carbon of different types of concrete showed that AASCC is more sustainable. However, more research in this field is required to encourage its universal acceptance and large-scale application.

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Abbreviations

AAB:

Alkali activated binders

AAC:

Alkali activated concrete

AASCC:

Alkali activated self-compacting concrete

CP:

Ceramic powder

FA:

Fly ash

HRWRA:

High-range water-reducing admixture

MK:

Metakaolin

NH:

Sodium hydroxide

NS:

Sodium silicate

PC:

Portland cement

PCC:

Portland cement concrete

RHA:

Rice husk ash

SL:

Slag

QP:

Quartz powder

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    Adeyemi Adesina

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Adesina, A. Performance and sustainability overview of alkali-activated self-compacting concrete. Waste Dispos. Sustain. Energy 2, 165–175 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42768-020-00045-w

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