Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Concrete Incorporating Synthetic Zeolite

The effect of natural and synthetic zeolite on the microstructure of cement matrix and mechanical properties of concretes was studied in the article. Results show that the addition of these pozzolanic materials results in the increase both compressive and flexural strength after 28 days of hardening. The concrete incorporating 10 mass.% of synthetic zeolite Na-P1 characterizes the highest compressive and flexural strength that reaches 53.5 and 7.8 MPa and exceeds the strength of reference concrete by 18 and 24%, respectively. This increase is the result of the improvement of the concrete on the microstructural level due to the formation of the additional amount of fibre-like crystals of hydrosilicates in the non-clinker part of the cement matrix providing its self-reinforcement.