The Effect of Calcined Bentonite Clay on the Late-Age Electrical Conductivity of Cement Paste after Wetting and Drying Cycles

Turan E., Oltulu M.

International Journal of Advanced Natural Sciences and Engineering Researches, sa.7, ss.7-11, 2023 (Hakemli Dergi)

Özet

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the development of sustainable construction materials and technologies. One promising approach is the use of natural minerals and additives to enhance the properties of cementitious composites. Calcined bentonite clay is a natural pozzolanic material that has been  shown  to  improve  the  compressive  strength  and  durability  of  concrete.  However,  its  effect  on  the electrical conductivity of cement paste is less well understood. Thisstudy investigates the effect of calcined bentonite clay on the electrical conductivity of cement paste after wetting and drying cycles. Cement paste samples  were  prepared  with  different  proportions  of  calcined  bentonite  clay  substitute  (5%,  10%,  15%, 20%, 20%, 25% and 30%). The specimens were then subjected to wetting and drying cycles of 5, 10, 15, and 20 cycles. Electrical conductivity measurements were performed on the specimens after each wetting and drying cycle.The results of the study showed that calcined bentonite clay had a negative effect on the electrical  conductivity  of  cement  paste.  The  electrical  conductivity  of  the  specimens  decreased  with increasing  calcined  bentonite  clay  substitution  level  and  with  increasing  number  of  wetting  and  dryingcycles.Despite its negative effect on electrical conductivity, calcined bentonite clay was found to improve the compressive strength of cement paste in the long term. This suggests that calcined bentonite clay is a viable mineral additive for improving the durability of concrete, even if it is not suitable for applications where high electrical conductivity is required.