Tailoring mechanical and functional properties of calcium sulphoaluminate cement (CSA) foam concrete with FA and GGBS replacements

Yun-Lin Liu; Xing-Zheng Xiao; Xing-Yu Zhou; Lan-Ping Qian; Dong Guo; Yun-Lin Liu; Xing-Zheng Xiao; Xing-Yu Zhou; Lan-Ping Qian; Dong Guo

doi:10.3934/matersci.2025047

AIMS Materials Science

2025, Volume 12, Issue 5: 1025-1040. doi: 10.3934/matersci.2025047

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Tailoring mechanical and functional properties of calcium sulphoaluminate cement (CSA) foam concrete with FA and GGBS replacements

1.
Prefabricated Building Research Institute of Anhui Province, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei, China
2.
School of Civil Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei, China
3.
Anhui Construction Engineering Inspection Technology Group Co., Ltd, Hefei, China
4.
Faculty of Architecture, Civil and Transportation Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
5.
School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, Guangzhou University, Guang Zhou, China

Received: 06 July 2025 Revised: 17 September 2025 Accepted: 10 October 2025 Published: 20 October 2025

Calcium sulphoaluminate cement (CSA) has been recognized for its rapid hardening, high early strength, strong chloride resistance, and low carbon emissions. This study developed a CSA-based foam concrete using a physical foaming method, incorporating industrial by-products—fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS)—at replacement ratios of 0%–30% to reduce costs and modify properties. Key properties assessed were flowability, dry shrinkage, density, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity. Results showed that FA and GGBS enhance flowability, reduce dry shrinkage and density, and diminish compressive strength, with dosage-dependent effects. The optimal replacement ratio of FA was 15%, yielding the lowest thermal conductivity at 0.0638 W/m·K, with only a minor strength reduction relative to the pure CSA foam concrete. The findings enable tailored design of sustainable, cost-effective CSA foam concrete using industrial by-products.
- foam concrete,
- calcium sulphoaluminate cement,
- fly ash,
- ground granulated blast-furnace slag
Citation: Yun-Lin Liu, Xing-Zheng Xiao, Xing-Yu Zhou, Lan-Ping Qian, Dong Guo. Tailoring mechanical and functional properties of calcium sulphoaluminate cement (CSA) foam concrete with FA and GGBS replacements[J]. AIMS Materials Science, 2025, 12(5): 1025-1040. doi: 10.3934/matersci.2025047

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Abstract

Calcium sulphoaluminate cement (CSA) has been recognized for its rapid hardening, high early strength, strong chloride resistance, and low carbon emissions. This study developed a CSA-based foam concrete using a physical foaming method, incorporating industrial by-products—fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS)—at replacement ratios of 0%–30% to reduce costs and modify properties. Key properties assessed were flowability, dry shrinkage, density, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity. Results showed that FA and GGBS enhance flowability, reduce dry shrinkage and density, and diminish compressive strength, with dosage-dependent effects. The optimal replacement ratio of FA was 15%, yielding the lowest thermal conductivity at 0.0638 W/m·K, with only a minor strength reduction relative to the pure CSA foam concrete. The findings enable tailored design of sustainable, cost-effective CSA foam concrete using industrial by-products.

References

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