Effect of magnetic water on properties of slag-based geopolymer composites incorporating ceramic tile waste from construction and demolition waste

This study investigates the effect of magnetic water (MW) on the properties of slag-based geopolymer composites (SGCs) incorporating ceramic tile waste (CTW) from construction and demolition waste (CDW). The presented study consists of two stages. In the first stage, reference mortars without additives were produced, and optimum parameters for molarity, curing temperature and curing time were determined. Tap water (TW) was used as mixing water, and blast furnace slag (BFS) was used as a precursor in SGCs in this stage. SGCs were produced using different alkali activator concentrations (12, 14 and 16 M) and were cured for either 24 or 48 h in an oven at ranging from 60 to 110 degrees C. Ultrasonic pulse velocity (U-pv), flexural strength (f(fs)), and compressive strength (f(cs)) tests were performed on the produced SGCs. The results of these tests indicated that optimum paramaters for molarity, curing temperature and curing time parameters were determined to be 16 M, 100 celcius and 24 h, respectively. Then, TW and MW were used as mixing water, and BFS and CTW were used as precursors in the second stage. At this stage, SGCs were produced using 16 M and cured in an oven at 100 celcius for 24 h. In the mixtures, CTW was used by substituting 10, 20, 30 and 40% by weight of BFS. In the second stage, workability, U-pv, f(fs), and f(cs) tests as well as microstructure analyses, were performed on the produced SGCs. Microstructure analyses were performed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). According to the results, U-pv, f(fs), and f(cs) increased compared to the reference SGCs when 10% of CTW was used. Additionally, when MW was used as mixing water, there were increases in workability, U-pv, f(fs), and f(cs) results compared to those produced with TW. From SEM analyses, it has been observed that MW accelerates the polymerization process of SGCs containing CTW and reduces the pore size of SGCs. As a result, it has been determined that MW can improve the fresh and hardened state properties and microstructures of SGCs containing CTW.