Prescription and technological efficiency of sedimentary rocks of various composition and genesis in cement systems

Introduction. Active mineral additives that allow controlling the structure formation processes and properties of cement systems are important components of modern modified concretes. Among the numerous types of modifiers for cement composites, the most effective ones include siliceous and aluminosilicate additives containing a significant amount of nanoscale particles, in particular, nanoparticles of silicon dioxides, clays, aluminum oxides and iron oxides. At the same time, common sedimentary rocks, such as diatomites, trepels, opokas, polymineral clays, etc., along with industrial wastes (silica fumes, fly ashes, metallurgical slags) can be promising raw materials for obtaining such modifiers. The purpose of this study was to establish the influence regularities of mineral additives based on sedimentary rocks of various composition and genesis on the technological and physico-mechanical properties of cement systems with the identification of the most effective modifiers. Methods and materials. Siliceous rocks (diatomite and opoka), calcined polymineral clays and carbonate rocks (dolomite and chalk) from several deposits of the Republic of Mordovia were used as mineral additives. The study of the chemical and mineralogical composition of sedimentary rocks was carried out using X-ray spectral fluorescence spectrometry and X-ray powder diffraction methods. In addition to the chemical and mineralogical composition, at the initial stage of the study, the specific surface area of mineral additives and Portland cement was determined on the PSX-12 dispersion analysis device using the Kozeny-Carman method. Prescription and technological efficiency of the applied mineral modifiers was evaluated by their effect on water demand, water-holding capacity, flowability of cement paste and mixed cement binder activity. The physical and mechanical characteristics of cement systems were determined using standardized and well-known authorial methods. Results and discussion. There were established correlation dependences between indicators of water demand, water-holding capacity, flowability of cement systems and specific surface of mineral additives used. In addition, relationship between the activity index of the studied modifiers and the content of silicon dioxide in their composition was revealed. Conclusions. According to the totality of the conducted studies, diatomite, opoka and calcined polymineral clay were identified as the most promising types of mineral additives. The increased effectiveness of these modifiers in cement systems is due to the peculiarities of their chemical and mineralogical composition, in particular, the presence of active silica-containing components (reactive minerals with an amorphized structure) such as opal-cristobalite-tridymite phase in diatomite and opoka as well as products of partial thermal destruction (dehydroxylation) of minerals of kaolinite and illite groups in the calcined polymineral clay.