- Category: Economics , Science
- Topic: Industry
Coarse aggregates refer to granular materials like crushed stone, gravel, sand, and iron blast-furnace slag that are blended with cementing liquid to form hydraulic cement concrete or mortar. According to Fajardo (2001), aggregates are inert elements that are cemented together with Portland cement to create plaster, mortar, or concrete. The coarse aggregate is one of the two types of aggregates employed, constituting about 75% of the aggregate mass.
Coarse aggregate is derived mainly from two sources: gravel deposits formed by water, wind, or glacial activity, and crushed stone, rock, boulders, and massive cobblestones. The proportion of coarse aggregate that passes through a sieve with a diameter of 4.76mm is used to differentiate it from fine aggregate.
Grading is the procedure of determining the particle size distribution of an aggregate utilizing a sieve analysis in conformity with ASTM C136. A hypothetical maximum size and grading constraints should be established for different reasons. Concrete durability, water and cement requirements, economy, relative aggregate proportions, workability, porosity, permeability, and shrinkage are all factors that may affect the outcome. Different grading may influence concrete consistency between different batches.
The sieving process determines particle size, which is then measured by the gradation size number (or grade size) when referring to the range of particle sizes. This number represents the total aggregate passing through various sieves.
Sieve analysis, which shows the percentage of aggregate passing through different sieves, is depicted in Table 1.
Flattened grading curves with no substantial deficiency or excess of any size produce the greatest outcomes. However, if tests establish that concrete of acceptable quality can be formed using aggregates that do not conform to the specified grades, they may be permitted for use by ASTM C33 (Kosmatka and Wilson, 2011).
Kosmatka and Wilson (2011) state that ASTM C33 coarse aggregate grading recommendations are inclusive of a broad range of gradings and size designations. If a certain ratio of fine aggregate to total aggregate produces great workability, the grading for a specified maximum coarse aggregate may be varied over a small range without significantly affecting the cement and water needs of a mixture. However, if the coarse aggregate grading fluctuates dramatically, then the combination proportions should be adjusted to produce workable concrete. Because discrepancies are challenging to forecast, maintaining uniformity in coarse aggregate manufacturing and handling is often more cost-effective than eliminating gradation variations. The limitation of coarse aggregate usage in concrete has a direct bearing on the finished good's cost. Small-size aggregates frequently consume more water and cement compared to large-size aggregates because of the higher total aggregate surface area.
The treatment of Calcium Hypochlorite
As per Ropp (2013), Calcium Hypochlorite is a crystalline white solid that emits an odor of chlorine. It has a chemical formula of Ca(ClO)2, a molecular mass of 142.974 g/mol, and a CAS number of 7778-54-3, with a density and weight of 1.21 g/cm3. When taken in water, it discharges embryonic chlorine and oxygen. It possesses a pungent odor and is strongly caustic, capable of generating enough heat to trigger fires or explosions when it reacts with organic compounds (Meyers, 2002).
According to Khern et al. (2020), the compressive and split tensile strength of rubber aggregates treated with Ca(ClO)2 were found to be 3.4% and 13.58% lower, respectively, than the reference mixture. Tire rubber particles are hydrophobic, resulting in the establishment of a weak bond with cement paste which reduces concrete strength when made with them.
Delagrave et al. (1997) reveal that treating rubber particles with Ca(ClO)2 is the best technique to reduce concrete mixtures' permeability. The most effective treatment was the 72-hour one, with no other treatment showing as much improvement as Ca(ClO)2. The reduction of porosity in the ITZ and improved rubber aggregate-paste bonding were linked to decreased water permeability. The Ca(ClO)2 treatment adds R-OH and R-COOH to the polymeric chain of rubber aggregates, resulting in more active reaction than polymeric hydrocarbon chain-reaction of normal rubber aggregates (Naik et al., 1996).
In addition, Khern et al. (2020) also discovered that treating rubber aggregates with NaOH and Ca(ClO)2 reduced the slump, and when natural coarse aggregates were partially replaced, slump was minimized due to the particles' form. Flaky or flat-surfaced particles offer a lower surface area, lowering friction and inter-particle movement. Angular rubber aggregates, on the other hand, have a greater surface area, increasing friction and decreasing movement. Overall workability is reduced because the cement paste adheres better to the surface of the rubber aggregates, causing water to be absorbed from cement mortar by improving cohesiveness.
Since a weak interfacial transition zone (ITZ) correlates with a loss of strength, numerous rubber aggregate treatments have been analyzed, concluding that the Ca(ClO)2 solution is beneficial. To exhibit substantial improvements, the process must be prolonged for 72 hours, according to statistical research (Khern et al., 2020).
After 72 hours of Ca(ClO)2 treatment, there were no gaps at the interface, as found by Khern et al. (2020). This is due to better aggregate/matrix bonding on the rough tire surfaces and reduced porosity caused by Friedel's salt creation. Treatments with Ca(ClO)2 for 72 hours essentially compensated for the decrease in strength detected in untreated rubber particles, according to strength measurements.
Finally, Huang et al. (2013) found that cement hydration created an outer layer around the rubber particles, improving stiffness compatibility between the rubber and concrete mix. This outer layer resulted in increased strength when rubber aggregates were used.
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