Reactive grinding aids and strength-enhancing agents for slag and other materials

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of grinding aids comprising Aluminum sulfate, Alum, and/or Na salt, K salt, or Li salt of a hydroxycarboxylic acid, wherein the hydroxycarboxylic acid comprises citric, lactic, glycolic, tartaric, acetic, or malic acid, for producing Ground Activated Cementitious Precursor Material (GACPM) by co-grinding with granulated slag, such as a steel industry waste, Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GBFS), and the products provided therefrom. The use of the one or more grinding aids reduces the grinding time by about 10-33%, improves particle fineness by about 10-33%, and/or reduces carbon emissions (CO2) associated with such processes by about 10-33%, thereby significantly enhancing efficiency. Additionally, it improves particle morphology and activates amorphous glass particles in the GACPM (compared to conventional Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS), increasing their reactivity with alkali activators in geopolymer cements or with calcium hydroxide when used with Portland cement applications. This activation, due to use of GACPM instead of GGBFS, leads to compressive strength gains of about 5-33% in activated geopolymer cement mortar/grout/concrete and about 5-33% in Portland GACPM cement blends, all while significantly reducing energy usage, costs, and carbon emissions.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.