Study of Attapulgite as an Additive in Reinforced Concrete by Substitution of Cement and Its Effects on the Durability Properties of Hardened Concrete

Abstract

The valorization of Senegalese attapulgite clay in concrete, as a solution against the exhaustion of the cement deposits was studied. In that purpose, attapulgite was first calcined at 800°C to make it reactive and added in concrete by substitution of Portland cement (CEM I 52.5N) at contents of 0, 5 and 10% by conserving a constant water/cement ratio value of 0.65. The effects of the partial replacement of cement by attapulgite on the physicochemical and mechanical properties of the concrete as well as on the steel-concrete bond were examined. For this purpose, the water porosity, the intrinsic permeability and the density of the clay-based concrete were evaluated. Compression, tensile and pull-out tests were carried out to determine the impact of clay on the Young modulus, the compressive and tensile strengths and the steel-concrete bond. This study was completed by a characterization of the pozzolanic reactivity of calcined attapulgite. All the results of these studies were compared with those of Portland cement as a reference. The substitution of cement by attapulgite up to 10% in concrete has only a small influence on its porosity and permeability and confers to the concrete gain in compressive strength of 11%. However, it caused a loss of steel-concrete bond of 10%.