Research areas

From the perspective of the state-of-the-art and the findings achieved within the cooperation between FCE CTU in Prague, the Department of Construction Technology, and the Department of Glass and Ceramics, ICTP, the issues of POPbeton research can be split into several, closely connected sections that may require different approaches, but by their final research strategy form inseparable parts of an integral whole.

Basic subdivision of issues involved in POPbeton research

1. Research into the entire complex of suitability of all input materials in the Czech Republic and abroad and their impact on the purpose of final exploitation of POPbeton.


2. Investigation of the technology of POPbeton production in practice, dosage procedures for individual components, its mixing method and time, its processing and maturing method until reaching required strength values.


3. Specification of POPbeton adhesion to different materials with a view to potential usage of POPbeton for thin-layer coverings, including applications onto steel-fibre-reinforced concrete, glass concrete and other types of fibre-reinforced concrete.


4. The effect of additives and admixtures on the values of mainly physical, mechanical and chemical properties of POPbeton.


5. Durability of POPbeton in relation to time, types of loading, including a long-term monitoring of its properties.


6. Dilation behaviour of POPbeton during regular yearly intervals and under critical temperatures.

In all cases, the results will be accompanied by standard photo documentation and details, and activated fly ash bonds, in particular, will be documented by images from the electronic microscope.

Commentary to individual research plan issues

1. Research into the entire complex of suitability of all input materials in the Czech Republic and abroad and their impact on the purpose of final exploitation of POPbeton.

In relation to fly ashes, to specify particle distribution, grain-size curves, standard consistency, the optimum water/cement ratio w, make chemical analysis, including the content of heavy metals etc. To analyze the differences of fly ashes from black coal and brown coal in relation to operational properties of POPbeton. In fillers, to make screen analysis, including grain-size curves, specify immediate moisture contents, moisture absorption, the content and type of heavy metals and, depending on the subsequent exploitation of POPbeton, potential freeze thaw resistance, resistance to de-icing salts and assorted chemicals. In additives, to specify separately their reaction to natrium silicate and caustic soda, where their actual activity is verified using respective activators. Analogically, in admixtures to test their reaction to respective activators in the same way. In all cases, to develop or design the rating procedure.

Responsible team member: Ing. Martin Lucuk

 

2. Investigation of the technology of POPbeton production in practice, dosage procedures for individual components, its mixing method and time, its processing and maturing method until reaching required strength values.

To describe in detail the procedures of POPbeton production in its time sequence, including the justification of its multi-fraction filler composition, to estimate the effect of alternative fly ash quantities, calculate the amounts of activators, the effect of dosing additives, admixtures and other components, including the effect of scattered reinforcement etc. To develop mixing, processing procedures, study tempering alternatives and effects of various work procedures on resulting strengths.

Responsible team member: Ing. Kamil Dvořáček

 

3. Specification of POPbeton adhesion to different materials with a view to potential usage of POPbeton for thin-layer coverings, including applications onto steel-fibre-reinforced concrete, glass concrete and other types of fibre-reinforced concrete.

To determine in an exact way adhesion of activated fly ash paste to different materials such as steel, nonferrous metals, different materials of construction production like bricks, stone, timber, plastics etc. To describe the technology of cleaning and treatment of connected surfaces, including potential penetration systems. Based on achieved results, to design and verify possibilities of thin-layer coverings of different building constructions by fly ash-based mortars or POPbeton varieties with different types of scattered or classic reinforcement. To design testing methods and equipment for the specification of adhesion or tearing strength.

Responsible team member: Ing. Pavel Houser

 

4. The effect of additives and admixtures on the values of mainly physical, mechanical and chemical properties of POPbeton.

To verify the effect of additives used in cement concretes on the resulting properties of POPbeton, in particular of plasticizers, liquefying agents, air-entraining agents, defrothing agents, stabilizing agents etc. Simultaneously, to verify the effect of fine admixtures such as slag, limestone, bentonite, metakaoline, microsilica etc.

Responsible team member: Ing. Rosťa Šulc

 

5. Durability of POPbeton in relation to time, types of loading, including a long-term monitoring of its properties.

To monitor strengths in relation to time (at least for 1 year), determine the static and dynamic modulus of elasticity, the effect of high temperatures on the cohesion and mechanical properties of ordinary and special POPbeton, environmental effects like moisture, dryness, frost, acid vapours, contact with acids, alkalis etc.

Responsible team member: Ing. Jaroslav Jeništa

 

6. Dilation behaviour of POPbeton during regular yearly intervals and under critical temperatures.

Based on the absence of hydration heat and successive shrinkage, to determine, contrary to cement concretes, the effects of temperature on the behaviour of fresh and mature POPbeton during a yearly cycle of outside temperatures changes. To specify the magnitude of dilation movement per m .°C for activated fly ash binder itself, fine fly ash mortars and POPbeton with different amounts of activated fly ash binder. In all compositions above, to determine dilation behaviour and potential structural changes under extreme temperatures (e.g.- 30 °C +30 °C, 200 °C, 500 °C and more).

Responsible team member: Ing. Tomáš Strnad

Division of work

So that all interested research team members may become familiar with the behaviour of POPbeton and may acquire its basic properties, it is vital to work in collaboration on a continuous programme. At present, a relatively large set of results from previous tests has been made available which are supposed to be continually complemented in the context of the programmes above. The research programmes constitute only a basic framework in each area, and as the case may be, this programme may further be extended or partially modified by individual researchers to fit the actual situation and the volume of completed literature search.

In all programme issues, cooperation with staff members of the Department of Glass and Ceramics, ICTP, who are involved in the problems of chemical reactions of geopolymer activation of fly ashes in relation to POPbeton, is essential.

Corrections and consultations about the achievements in fly ash binders are made in cooperation with the co-researcher Lenka Myšková.