Technobius

Application of micro and nano modifying additives in road construction materials

Rassul Tlegenov — 2024-10-28

The need for stronger and more sustainable road infrastructure has stimulated research into innovative materials, including micro- and nano-additives, to improve the performance of asphalt and bitumen. This paper aims to summarize the advances in the application of these additives with a focus on improving mechanical, thermal, and environmental properties. The study provides a detailed review of traditional micro-additives such as elastomers and resins, as well as advanced nanomaterials including nano silica, nano clay, and carbon nanoparticles. Methods include analyzing experimental data from recent studies on bitumen modification with biopolymeric materials such as polylactic acid (PLA), which show an increase in molecular weight, softening point, and ductility. The main results show that the use of nano additives improves the durability of the road surface, increases its resistance to cracking, and increases the service life of the material under different climatic conditions. For example, roads modified with nano silica showed a 20-30% improvement in tensile strength and a 15% reduction in deformation. In addition, PLA bitumen modification increased the softening point by 10°C and improved the overall elasticity by 25%. These results emphasize the potential of micro- and nano-additives to create more durable, environmentally friendly, high-performance road materials.

Complex additive for improving the strength properties of heavy concrete based on industrial waste

Rauan Lukpanov — 2024-10-29

The article presents the results of using a complex modified additive to improve concrete's physical and mechanical properties. The complex additive includes industrial production wastes: metallurgical slag and alcohol production wastes (post-alcohol bard). To stabilize the hydrogen index the alkali KON is included in the composition of the additive. A set of laboratory studies was carried out to measure the strength, absorption, and frost resistance of test specimens to assess the effect of the additive on the properties of concrete. A comparison of physical and mechanical properties was made for samples of different concentrations of slag. The ratio of slag components to cement was from 5 to 25% by the total mass of the binder, a multiple of 5%. The optimal composition of the mixture, with maximum strength values, corresponds to the percentage of slag 15%, post-alcohol bard 22.5 liters, and alkali 150 grams. In general, the results obtained from data points of the compared parameters showed consistent results with minimal variation in the data. The results obtained are of practical value related to the reduction of the cost of production of structural concrete with an increase in its strength indicators.

Heat-resistant concretes based on cement binders and waste from the metallurgical industry

Samal Akimbekova — 2024-10-29

The main direction of the development of heat-resistant concrete production is the use of new materials, ensuring mechanization and industrialization of construction, increasing the performance characteristics of refractory compositions, reducing material consumption, introducing waste-free technologies in the production of concrete with increased physical and mechanical characteristics under prolonged exposure to high temperatures on cement binders and waste from the metallurgical industry and reducing environmental pollution. A significant environmental impact on the environment is exerted by large-tonnage technogenic waste produced by JSC «Aluminum of Kazakhstan» – bauxite sludge obtained by processing bauxite into alumina containing 42.7% Fe₂O₃. The prospects of its application as a filler in heat-resistant concretes are considered, which makes it possible to increase the physico-mechanical and thermal characteristics. The composition and properties of this waste and the change in the properties of heat-resistant concrete during the introduction of filler have been studied. Reactive alumina has been studied, which is 99.9% submicron alumina with a very low content of Na₂O oxide. It is shown that the properties of concrete change after the introduction of iron-containing waste in the amount of 5% and reactive alumina – 37.5% and 38.8%. Their volumetric weight, control strength, and other properties are increased. The improvement of physical, mechanical, and thermal characteristics depends on the structure and neoplasms in the obtained samples. Samples of heat-resistant concrete were analyzed using electron probe X-ray spectral qualitative and quantitative microanalysis and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and it was shown that the iron-alumina waste contributes to the compaction of the structure due to its resistance to delamination and has increased fluidity at low humidity in the cementing mass. For further investigation of the physical-thermal characteristics, depending on the structure and neoplasms in the obtained samples, a petrographic method using a polarization microscope in transmitted and reflected light is required.

Development of composition of fine-grained concrete based on ash-and-slag wastes for additive technology of manufacturing small architectural forms

Zulfiya Aubakirova — 2024-11-24

Developing a fine-grained concrete composition for additive technologies is an important scientific and practical task, since traditional building mixtures are unsuitable for 3D printers, and special solutions are practically absent in mass production. This study aims to develop a composition of fine-grained concrete for additive technologies using local resources and ash and slag waste of the Ust-Kamenogorsk thermal power plant, which contributes to the expansion of the raw material base used in this area. The work was carried out taking into account the analysis of the literature review, which made it possible to identify key aspects and directions in the development of concrete mixtures for additive technologies. This article discusses the possibility of using ash and slag waste in concrete as a filler. Ash has a grain size comparable to river sand, so it can be used as a new material to replace fine filler. To obtain the mixture, 5 experimental mixtures and one reference sample were prepared. The optimal composition is considered to include 30% of M500 Portland cement, 40% of sand, and 30% of ash and slag. The physical and mechanical characteristics of this composition are as follows: the mobility of the mixture is 5.81 cm, and the setting completion time is 4 hours 19 minutes. The results of the sample tests confirmed that the created fine-grained concrete compositions are suitable for extrusion on construction 3D printers. The possibility of creating a composition based on local ash and slag waste for additive technologies used in producing small architectural forms was experimentally confirmed.

Dependence of biopolymer activity on pH and their influence on soil moisture behavior

Zhanar Kusbergenova — 2024-11-25

The study presents the treatment of soil with chitosan and xanthan gum, examines the influence of the pH of base solutions on the solubility and activity of these biopolymers, and investigates the changes in soil properties resulting from their application. The first stage of the study is devoted to the peculiarities of preparing soil reinforcement with biopolymers and their mixing process. The obtained samples were analyzed for their texture, which allowed identifying the optimal conditions for maximum solubility. The second stage of the study is devoted to evaluating the modified soil's behavior under wetting conditions. The moisture level of the soil directly affects its physical and mechanical properties. Understanding these changes makes it possible to predict the behavior of the soil under different service conditions. The study considered 10 soil samples prepared with base solutions of different acidity (pH 4, pH 7, pH 9), among which one sample serves as a control sample without modification with biopolymers. This makes it possible to evaluate the effect of modification on soil properties and to identify optimal conditions for its use. The analysis showed that the solutions' moisture level and acidity significantly affect the samples' structural characteristics. At the same time modified soils show improved performance compared to the control sample, the sample reinforced with chitosan increased density by 16 %. These data are important for the development of effective solutions in geotechnical and construction engineering.