Investigation on Calcined Magnesium-Based Mineral Powder and Its Behavior as Alternative Binder

Abstract

This paper investigates the behavior of calcined powder made of natural magnesite and natural steatite. The magnesite and steatite are made into a powder of ratio 3 : 1 by weight proportion, and the combination is thermally decomposed at a temperature of 1200° Celsius. The calcined powder along with and without Sodium Tripolyphosphate (STPP) salt is tested for its microscopic structural development, consistency, initial setting time, final setting time, and heat of hydration. The powder is made into paste with water/powder ratio as 0.25 and the hardened samples are tested for its compressive strength, drying shrinkage, pH value, SEM analysis, and XRD analysis. The results show that adding phosphate salt increases the hydration process, setting time, and strength aspects. The test samples are found with hydration products such as magnesium hydroxide and struvite. Thus, the present work shows that natural metamorphic magnesite and natural metamorphic steatite can be the potential alternative resource for the production of magnesium-based binder.