Zeolite influence of vibropressing concrete durability

Abstract

Durability is one of the main characteristics in the production of high-quality concrete paving blocks in the Baltic region climate zone. Concrete paving blocks are produced by means of vibropressing, dimensions: 198×98×80 mm. The article describes tests with concrete paving blocks, the top layer of which contains 5% of zeolite admixture obtained from waste of aluminum fluoride production by low-temperature synthesis. The durability of concrete paving blocks was tested according to abrasion resistance, tensile splitting strength, absorption and frost resistance. The test results revealed that 5% of zeolite admixture added to the top layer of concrete paving blocks reduce the absorption, increase the tensile splitting strength and decrease abrasion. The zeolite admixture used in concrete paving blocks reduces the scaling about 4 times after 28 freeze-thaw cycles when 3% NaCl is used as the freezing solution. The test results proved that synthetic zeolite obtained from aluminum fluoride by means of low temperature synthesis can be used as a supplementary cementitious material to increase the durability of concrete pavement elements.