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Journals / Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Fen ve Mühendislik Bilimleri Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 26 Sayı: 5

The Effect of Fly Ash/Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag Ratio and Supplementary Microwave Curing on the Mechanical and Microstructural Properties of Alkali-Activated Materials

Uçucu Kül/Öğütülmüş Granüle Yüksek Fırın Cürufu Oranının ve İlave Mikrodalga Kürünün Alkali Aktive Malzemelerin Mekanik ve Mikroyapısal Özellikleri Üzerindeki Etkisi

Selin Sude Yenice(AFYON KOCATEPE UNIVERSITY)0009-0006-5633-0844
Nur Nisa Çoban(AFYON KOCATEPE UNIVERSITY)0009-0009-6404-6677
Recep Kurtuluş(AFYON KOCATEPE UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-3206-9278
Cansu Kurtuluş(AFYON KOCATEPE UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-0758-5844
Pages
1155–1166
Publication Date
2026-10-06
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Overall, precursor composition exerted a greater influence on the investigated properties than supplementary microwave treatment, with the 50% FA-50% GGBFS blend providing the best balance of microstructural characteristics and mechanical performance.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:The curing regime plays a role in determining the performance and microstructural development of alkali-activated materials (AAMs).
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Key Findings & Data:Three mixtures (100% FA, 50% FA-50% GGBFS, and 100% GGBFS) were produced using a constant Na₂O/Al₂O₃ molar ratio of 1.0 and characterized by compressive strength, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and mass loss measurements.
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Conclusion & Impact:Overall, precursor composition exerted a greater influence on the investigated properties than supplementary microwave treatment, with the 50% FA-50% GGBFS blend providing the best balance of microstructural characteristics and mechanical performance.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Alkali aktive malzemeler · Yüksek fırın cürufu · Basma mukavemeti

Abstract

The curing regime plays a role in determining the performance and microstructural development of alkali-activated materials (AAMs). This study investigates the influence of supplementary microwave treatment following initial oven curing on AAMs prepared using fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) in varying proportions. Three mixtures (100% FA, 50% FA-50% GGBFS, and 100% GGBFS) were produced using a constant Na₂O/Al₂O₃ molar ratio of 1.0 and characterized by compressive strength, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and mass loss measurements. Increasing the GGBFS content promoted the formation of amorphous reaction products, while supplementary microwave treatment had little effect on crystalline phases. FTIR indicated changes in the aluminosilicate bonding environment after alkali activation, whereas similar chemical functionalities were observed for the oven-cured control and microwave-treated specimens. GGBFS-containing specimens formed a denser reaction matrix but developed more pronounced microcracks, particularly following supplementary microwave treatment, whereas FA-rich mixtures contained numerous unreacted spherical particles. SEM-EDS indicated an increase in the Ca/Si ratio with increasing GGBFS content, reflecting greater calcium incorporation into the reaction products. The highest 28-day compressive strength was obtained for the 50% FA-50% GGBFS mixture, reaching 14.2 MPa for the oven-cured control and 11.2 MPa after microwave treatment. Supplementary microwave treatment resulted in lower 28-day compressive strength across all precursor compositions and was associated with greater mass loss and more pronounced microcrack formation. Overall, precursor composition exerted a greater influence on the investigated properties than supplementary microwave treatment, with the 50% FA-50% GGBFS blend providing the best balance of microstructural characteristics and mechanical performance.

Özet

Kürleme yöntemi, alkali aktive malzemelerin (AAM) performansı ve mikroyapısal gelişimi üzerinde önemli bir etkiye sahiptir. Bu çalışmada, farklı oranlarda uçucu kül (FA) ve öğütülmüş granüle yüksek fırın cürufu (GGBFS) içeren AAM'lerde başlangıç geleneksel etüv kürünün ve etüv kürünü takiben uygulanan mikrodalga kürünün etkisi araştırılmıştır. %100 FA, %50 FA-%50 GGBFS ve %100 GGBFS olmak üzere üç karışım, sabit Na₂O/Al₂O₃ molar oranı (1.0) kullanılarak hazırlanmış ve basınç dayanımı, X-ışını kırınımı (XRD), Fourier dönüşümlü kızılötesi spektroskopisi (FTIR), enerji dağılımlı X-ışını spektroskopisi ile taramalı elektron mikroskobu (SEM-EDS) ve kütle kaybı analizleri ile karakterize edilmiştir. GGBFS oranının artması ağırlıklı olarak amorf reaksiyon ürünlerinin oluşumunu teşvik ederken, kürleme yönteminin kristalin fazlar üzerinde belirgin bir etkisi gözlenmemiştir. FTIR analizleri alkali aktivasyon sonrasında alüminosilikat bağ yapısındaki değişimleri göstermiştir. GGBFS içeren numuneler daha yoğun bir reaksiyon matrisi oluşturmalarına rağmen, özellikle mikrodalga küründe daha belirgin mikroçatlaklar geliştirmiştir. SEM-EDS sonuçları, GGBFS oranındaki artışla birlikte Ca/Si oranının yükseldiğini göstermiştir. En yüksek 28 günlük basınç dayanımı, etüv kürlü kontrol numunelerinde 14.2 MPa ve mikrodalga işlemi uygulanan numunelerde 11.2 MPa değerlerine ulaşan %50 FA-%50 GGBFS karışımında elde edilmiştir. Ek mikrodalga işlemi, tüm öncül bileşimlerde daha düşük 28 günlük basınç dayanımı ile sonuçlanmış ve bu durum, daha yüksek kütle kaybı ve daha belirgin mikroçatlak oluşumuyla ilişkilendirilmiştir. Sonuç olarak, öncül malzeme bileşiminin incelenen özellikler üzerinde ek mikrodalga işleminden daha belirleyici olduğu ve %50 FA-%50 GGBFS karışımının mikroyapısal özellikler ile mekanik performans açısından en dengeli sonuçları sağladığı belirlenmiştir.

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Cite This Article

Yenice, S. S., Çoban, N. N., Kurtuluş, R., Kurtuluş, C. (2026). The Effect of Fly Ash/Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag Ratio and Supplementary Microwave Curing on the Mechanical and Microstructural Properties of Alkali-Activated Materials. Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Fen ve Mühendislik Bilimleri Dergisi, Cilt: 26 Sayı: 5, 1155–1166. https://doi.org/10.35414/akufemubid.1997454

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