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Microstructural properties of lithium-added cement mortars subjected to alkali–silica reactions

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Abstract

Little comparative research has been done on the efficiency of lithium additives to reduce the alkali–silica reaction (ASR) expansion. To reduce the ASR effects of reactive aggregate, different mortar bars were obtained by adding lithium additives (Li2SO4, LiNO3, Li2CO3, LiBr and LiF) to the mixing water by the following mass percentages of cement: 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5% and 3%. The ASR expansions of the mortar bars at 2, 7 and 14 days were identified according to ASTM C 1260-14. The morphology of the specimens subject to the ASR effect was analysed using a scanning electron microscope, and their chemical composition was analysed by electron dispersion spectroscopy. Among all specimens, the lowest level of 14-day ASR expansion was obtained in mortar bars with 3% Li2CO3 additive.

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Abbreviations

ASR:

alkali–silica reaction

EDS:

electron dispersion spectroscopy

Li2CO3 :

lithium carbonate

Li2SO4 :

lithium sulphate

LiBr:

lithium bromide

LiF:

lithium fluoride

LiNO3 :

lithium nitrate

LiOH:

lithium hydroxide

Na2Oeq :

alkali equivalent

NaOH:

sodium hydroxide

SEM:

scanning electron microscopy

XRD:

X-ray diffraction

XRF:

X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Kırıkkale University, 71451, Kirikkale, Turkey

    İlhami Demir, Özer Sevim & İlker Kalkan

  2. Department of Architecture, Amasya University, 05100, Amasya, Turkey

    İlhami Demir

Authors
  1. İlhami Demir
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  2. Özer Sevim
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  3. İlker Kalkan
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Correspondence to Özer Sevim.

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Demir, İ., Sevim, Ö. & Kalkan, İ. Microstructural properties of lithium-added cement mortars subjected to alkali–silica reactions. Sādhanā 43, 112 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12046-018-0901-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12046-018-0901-3

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