ABSTRACT Furnace slag (FS), an industrial by‐product with a loose porous structure and high water absorption, is limited in its application as a high‐performance construction aggregate. This study utilized the geopolymer (GP) developed by the research team in the previous stage to coat and modify the FS, optimizing the coating process by investigating the effects of key process parameters on the bulk density, crushing value and water absorption rate of the modified FS. Under the optimal conditions, the modified FS exhibited a 30% reduction in 1‐hour water absorption, a 27.8% reduction in crushing value and an approximately 20% increase in bulk density. Mortar made with modified FS exhibited a 58.7% increase in 28‐day compressive strength compared to mortar with unmodified FS. Microstructural analyses (SEM and XRD) revealed that during hydration, the geopolymer shell generated C‐S‐H gel, ettringite, and gypsum, providing excellent strength. The slag adheres closely to the shell, and excellent bonding without a distinguishable interface is observed between the shell and the cementitious material in the mortar. This surface modification method significantly enhances slag performance using only industrial wastes, offering an environmentally friendly approach to improve FS utilization.
Liu et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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