Experimental Study on the Production of One-Part Alkali-Activated Foam Mortar Containing Eggshell Waste

International Journal of Civil Engineering

© 2025 by SSRG - IJCE Journal

Volume 12 Issue 4

Year of Publication : 2025

Authors : Kübra Ekiz Barış

10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V12I4P117

How to Cite?

Kübra Ekiz Barış, "Experimental Study on the Production of One-Part Alkali-Activated Foam Mortar Containing Eggshell Waste," SSRG International Journal of Civil Engineering, vol. 12,  no. 4, pp. 181-193, 2025. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V12I4P117

Abstract:

Eggshell (ES) is an agro-based waste that produces alkali-activated materials. Although most of the research is focused on ES-based Alkali-Activated Mortars (AAM), Alkali-Activated Foam Mortars (AAFM) production is quite scarce. Using caustic aqueous alkaline solutions in traditional two-part mixing methods results in substantial dangers during large-scale applications. This study presents an opportunity to produce one-part AAFM, foamed with aluminum powder (Al), that uses metakaolin (MK) and ES as aluminosilicate precursors. The impacts of MK:ES and Al contents on the properties are researched. The highest density (D) (1.81 g/cm3), ultrasound velocity (UV) (2.33 km/s), Compressive Strength (CS) (12.50 MPa), and the lowest porosity (P) (15.35%), water absorption ratio (WAR) (9.82%), and Drying Shrinkage (DS) (511 μs), are detected in the samples with 70% of MK and 30% of ES. The pore size distributions change with Al content. Gradually increasing Al content to 1.50% results in an increase in the volume of macropores. The lowest thermal conductivity coefficient (TC), 0.187 W/mK, is determined in the (70MK:30ES)-1.50%Al sample. One-part AAFMs with various Al contents may be used as non-loadbearing wall materials, such as lightweight aggregate concrete, pumice concrete, aerated autoclaved concrete, and lightweight bricks.

Keywords:

Alkali activation, Eggshell waste, Foam mortar, One-part mixing method, Wall material.

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