Evaluates the impact of EAF slag on mechanical and radiation protection properties of alkali-activated binders, suggesting their potential use in nuclear facilities.
Key Points
The research aims to fabricate alkali-activated binders using BFS and EAFS and assess their performance under thermal exposure.
Blended BFS and EAFS in ratios of 100:0, 90:10, and 80:20, followed by alkali activation.
Prepared samples were thermally exposed and characterized using density measurements, XRD, FTIR, compressive strength testing, and gamma-ray spectroscopy.
Density measurements and structural analyses were conducted to evaluate the effects of EAFS on microstructure and performance.
Density increased from 2.1979 to 2.2431 g/cm³ with higher EAFS ratios.
Compressive strength decreased from 54 MPa to 43 MPa as EAFS increased, indicating a detrimental effect on load-bearing capacity.
Incorporating EAFS enhanced radiation protection performance, showing over a 5% increase in linear attenuation coefficients at specific energy levels.