Investigation of the effect of asphalt waste on physical and mechanical properties of alkali activated mortars

As a result of the harmful effects of global warming, negative effects such as increase in temperature level, rise in sea level, and decrease in forests and agricultural areas are expected in the next hundred years. Cement is responsible for approximately 8% of CO2 emissions worldwide. Reducing the amount of cement production, using alternative materials and wastes in the production of building materials can contribute to reducing CO2 emissions. At the last years, there is an interest in alternative studies for the production of building materials without the using of cement increasing. In this study, Finely Ground Blast Furnace Slag and Fly Ash were used as powder material in three different ratios. Recycled Asphalt Waste (RAW) was reduced to 0-4 mm size and evaluated fine aggregate in alkaline activated mortar mixes. At preparation of mortar mixtures, sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate solutions were used in standart and fixed ratios for all mixtures. Three different activation temperatures (40 °C, 80 °C and 120 °C) were applied for 18 hours in order to find the effect of temperature activation at the prepared alkali-activated mortar samples. After the activation temperature, the samples were kept in the standard curing pool for 7, 28 and 90 days. After curing, physical and mechanical effects were experiment on alkaline activated mortar samples. After the activation temperature physical and mechanical properties were determined by exposing the samples to the effect of Sulfuric Acid for different periods (7, 28 and 90 days) on the samples that gained 28 days strength in the standard curing pool. The water absorption and porosity percentages, compressive strength and electrical resistivity changes were investigated in the samples kept in the curing pool also changes in weight and strength loss were investigated in samples exposed to SA effect. As a result, it had seen that activation temperature is an important parameter. The best results against the acid effect were obtained from the samples applied at 80 °C activation temperature. In addition, it was observed that acid resistance increased due to the decrease at Recycled Asphalt Waste ratio