Influence of Steatite Powder on the Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Sustainable Concrete

In the construction sector, one of the essential materials is cement, and a key component in making concrete is cement. Nevertheless, the energy-intensive process of cement manufacture depletes natural resources, raises CO2 emissions, and has an undesirable effect on the environment. This has motivated specialists to explore appropriate cement alternatives to create sustainable cementitious materials. The objective of this study was to examine the use of steatite powder (SP) as a partial replacement for cement to minimize its adverse consequences on the environment, while maintaining the required properties of the concrete. In this work, the fresh properties, strength, and microstructural features were examined. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) helped to validate the mechanical strength. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was replaced with SP in proportionsof 0 %, 5 %, 10 %, and 15 %. The slump cone test was utilized to measure the workability of the concrete mix. The results showed that as the ratio of steatite replacement increased, the slump values declined. The mechanical properties such as compressive strength, split tensile strength, and flexural strength were examined by considering the average samples for curing times of 7 d and 28 d. The inclusion of 5 % steatite powder produced good results for all the curing periods and revealed that it is an ideal mix for cement replacement. From the microstructure study, it was noted that the fine steatite particles sealed the voids and minimized the pore structure of the mixture, along with improving the interfacial transition zone (ITZ); hence, it produced a denser structure.