CAREER: Mechanisms of Hydration Kinetics and Property Development in Activated Slag and Fly Ash Multiphase Sustainable Binder Systems

该学院早期职业发展（CAREER）计划奖的目的是研究活化的粒化高炉矿渣和粉煤灰的水化机制，以设计具有改进性能的粘合剂系统。矿渣和粉煤灰在碱性介质中的溶解机制，产物相的成核、生长和扩散，以及各个相的水化相互依赖性，将使用不同的表征技术来确定。还将探索通过影响产物相成核的类型和速率来修改活化粘合剂的反应动力学的方法。分析水化模型的基础上的成核和生长的原则，和化学动力学将被开发为考虑在这些系统中的水化的多相，多阶段的性质的活化粘合剂。该项目的教育计划通过研究整合更广泛的课程开发，K-12外展计划的发展，以及通过少数民族学生招聘的多样性倡议，与研究组成部分紧密结合。 本研究旨在了解矿渣和粉煤灰活化体系反应动力学的基本机理，其结果将促进替代可持续建筑材料具有更好的性能，更低的CO2足迹和更低的隐含能量。这也是朝着设计这种革命性的混凝土以提高该领域的接受度迈出的关键一步。由于活化体系的多相/多阶段性质，水化模型将是一个新的发展。为明天的土木工程专业学生做准备？的技术领导人设想通过在土木工程课程的拟议进步。

The objective of this Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program award is to investigate the hydration mechanism of activated ground granulated blast furnace slag and fly ash for designing binder systems with improved performance. The mechanism of dissolution of slag and fly ash in alkaline medium, product phase nucleation, growth and diffusion, and interdependence of hydration of individual phases will be determined using different characterization techniques. Methods for modifying reaction kinetics of the activated binders, by influencing the type and rate of product phase nucleation will also be explored. Analytical hydration models based on nucleation and growth principles, and chemical kinetics will be developed for activated binders considering the multi-phase, multi-stage nature of hydration in these systems. The educational plan in this project is strongly integrated with research component through research integrated broader curriculum development, development of K-12 outreach program integrating proposed research, and diversity initiative through minority student recruitments. The research is to understand the fundamental mechanism of the reaction kinetics of slag and fly ash activated systems, and the results will promote alternative sustainable construction materials with better performance, lower CO2 foot print and lower embodied energy. It is also a crucial step toward engineering this revolutionary concrete for increased acceptance in the field. The hydration model, incorporating the effect of complexities due to multi-phase/multi-stage nature of the activated systems, will be a new development. Preparing civil engineering students as tomorrow?s technological leaders is envisioned through the proposed advancement in civil engineering curriculum.