Preparation Conditions for the Synthesis of Alkali-Activated Binders Using Tungsten Mining Waste

This study evaluated the results of preparation conditions for the production of an alkali-activated binder (AAB) based on a binary mixture of tailings from tungsten mine waste (TMW), and waste glass (WG) activated with a mixture of sodium silicate (SS) and sodium hydroxide (SH). A 40% by weight WG increased the amorphous nature of the binary blend by 21% without initiating the alkali-silica reaction. The SS-SH activator solution was subjected to a variation of mixing times, and its sensitivity was measured using temperature monitoring and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). After 20 min of mixing, the SS-SH activator solution showed a 3.13 degrees C reduction in temperature and a 21.4% increase in unbound water content, and as a result imparted a 26% drop in the mechanical strength of TMW-WG AAB at 28 days. The TMW-WG AAB was also determined to develop the highest compressive strength when cured at 80 degrees C for 24 h in sealed conditions. The following conditions, supported by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and FTIR, are responsible for the most significant dissolution of the aluminosilicate oxides. This work is made available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.