Mechanical and microscale characterization of foamed concrete with Tianqi aluminosilicate binder

Persistent research work has aided the development of supplementary cementitious materials, contributing to both sustainable development and mitigating environmental impacts. This study utilized Tianqi aluminosilicate (TAS) as partial replacement for Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) in foamed concrete (FC) mix. The mechanical, transport, and microstructural characteristics of the concrete were explored. The formed concrete mixes were developed by varying TAS from 0 to 40%, in steps of 10% for OPC to identify optimal performance. The mechanical characteristics (compressive, flexural, splitting tensile, and elastic modulus) improved by 18-25% over control and peaked at 20% TAS. At 20% TAS substitution, the transport properties (water absorption and permeability) improved significantly, which corresponds to 35% and 28%, reduction, respectively. SEM analysis revealed that TAS refined pore structure, yielding a denser matrix with homogeneous hydration product distribution. The result revealed foam stability and uniformity in mixes containing TAS, and an improvement in mechanical and durability of the concrete. Filler effect and pozzolanic activities of TAS were identified as two key factors responsible for the observed results. There was pore refinement improved secondary hydration in the concrete matrix. The results show that 20% TAS substitution improves strength and durability while lowering OPC use and striking the ideal performance balance. From the results, TAS proved to be a sustainable supplementary cementitious material aiding the durability of the mixes. This work advances eco-friendly construction practices by demonstrating TAS's viability in high-performance FC applications.