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Rheological properties of micromortars containing fines from manufactured aggregates

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Abstract

This paper concerns the influence of fines from manufactured aggregates on the rheological properties of the micromortar phase of concrete. Fines from nine different aggregates were included in the experimental work. The zeta potential of five of them was measured at different additions of superplasticizer in order to study the interaction between the surface of the fines and the superplasticizer. The rheological properties of the micromortars were studied at different volume concentrations of fines and at different concentrations in the paste phase, i.e., w/c ratios. Furthermore, the micromortars were studied at different dosages of a superplasticizer. The results show that the fines have different surface properties, i.e., zeta potential, and indicate that the superplasticizer only is adsorbed on some of them. The results from the rheological characterisation of the micromortars indicate that the higher water demand of concrete with manufactured aggregates partly can be traced to the properties of the micromortar phase of the concrete.

Résumé

Dans cette étude, l’influence des roches concassées très fines (<0.25 mm) est examinée en considérant les propriétés rhéologiques du béton en phase mortier. Neuf différents granulats fins sont considérés dans l’essai. Le potentiel zeta de cinq échantillons a été mesuré avec différent dosages de superplastifiant pour pouvoir étudier l’interaction entre la surface des granulats et le superplastifiant. Les caractéristiques rhéologiques des mortiers sont étudiées à différentes concentrations volumiques de granulats et à différentes concentrations d’eau/ciment (W/C). Les mortiers ont également été étudiés à différents dosages de superplastifiant. Les résultats obtenus montrent que les granulats fins ont différentes caractéristiques de surface, et indiquent que le superplastifiant n’est absorbé que dans certains cas. Les résultats de la caractérisation rhéologique des mortiers montrent que la quantité élevée d’eau nécessaire au béton avec des granulats peut être partiellement expliqué par les caractéristiques du béton en phase mortier.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge The Consortium for Financing Basic Research in the Concrete Field, MinBaS and Agricola Research Center for financial support. Prof. Johan Silfwerbrand is also greatly acknowledged for valuable comments, both of scientific and linguistic nature, on this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Swedish Cement and Concrete Research Institute, Drottn. Kristinas väg 26, 10044, Stockholm, Sweden

    M. Westerholm & B. Lagerblad

  2. Division of Mineral Processing, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden

    E. Forssberg

Authors
  1. M. Westerholm
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  2. B. Lagerblad
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  3. E. Forssberg
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Correspondence to M. Westerholm.

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Westerholm, M., Lagerblad, B. & Forssberg, E. Rheological properties of micromortars containing fines from manufactured aggregates. Mater Struct 40, 615–625 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-006-9173-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-006-9173-1

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