Martin Cyr

• Professor, ing., Ph.D.
• Professor at Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier

The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of natural and accelerated (1% CO2) carbonation on three different alkali-activated materials (AAMs), including a metakaolin geopolymer (GMK), a sodium silicate ground-granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), and a sodium carbonate GGBS, and compare their performances with those of Ordinary Portland c...

Concrete has emerged as a promising solid-based sensible heat storage (SHS) material due to its favorable balance of thermal properties, cost-effectiveness, non-toxicity, and widespread availability. This state-of-the-art review examines the applications of concrete-based SHS across diverse domains, including buildings, concentrated solar power sys...

This paper presents an experimental approach to the study of the compressive strength, isothermal calorimetry and life cycle assessment (LCA) of alkali-activated pastes based on soda–lime–silica glass, established to investigate the effect of the nature and proportion of the activator. Four different activators are compared: Portland cement, sodium...

Cementitious material with a high ettringite content can be considered effective in a long-term (seasonal) thermochemical energy storage (TCES) system, resolving the issue of intermittency between production and availability of renewable energy. However, to evaluate the behavior of the storage material, an experimental study of energy storage in a...

This study’s aim is to fully characterize ferronickel slag from New Caledonia, considered a multiphase mineral containing amorphous material. The methodology consisted of combining chemical, mineral, and morphological characterization techniques, such as ICP-AES, TGA, Q-XRD, microscopy, spectroscopy, etc. The ferronickel slag consisted of 44 wt. %...

This experimental study investigates a novel approach to utilize waste concrete powder (WCP) in conjunction with metakaolin as a precursor in the production of alkali-activated binder for sustainable consumption of construction and demolition waste. A Chapelle test confirms the presence of reactive silica in thermo-mechanically activated WCP. Diffe...

GGBS composition and the choice of the activation systems have a large impact on the reactivity of GGBS-based binders. Here, the reactivity of 16 artificially-modified GGBSs was investigated in blended cements, alkali-activated binders and supersulfated cements, using isothermal calorimetry for hydration times between 24 h and 120 h. Lower glass ne...

This study investigates the importance of washing process in the quantitative improvement of both porosity and specific surface area of geopolymers. To this end, geopolymers were synthesized using natural kaolinite clay via alkaline activation. The characterization of both unwashed (UW-GP) and washed (W-GP) geopolymers, involved several techniques:...

The general transfer properties (water porosity, mercury intrusion porosimetry, water permeability, capillary absorption, gas permeability and resistivity) and chloride penetration resistance (natural chloride diffusion test and rapid chloride permeability test) of three low-carbon concretes C25/30 (low clinker (LCK) concrete, alkaliactivated slag...

The general transfer properties (water porosity, mercury intrusion porosimetry, water permeability, capillary absorption, gas permeability and resistivity) and chloride penetration resistance (natural chloride diffusion test and rapid chloride permeability test) of three low-carbon concretes C25/30 (low clinker (LCK) concrete, alkali-activated slag...

The Al2O3-SiC-C or ASC castables are used in the main runners of blast furnaces. Most of the papers published to date focus on laboratory corrosion tests because access to the post-mortem samples of ASC castables is difficult. However, investigation of post-mortem samples is crucial in reducing the wear of ASC castables. The main runner is divided...

The current ability to predict the carbonation resistance of alkali-activated materials (AAMs) is incomplete, partly because of widely varying AAM chemistries and variable testing conditions. To identify general correlations between mix design parameters and the carbonation rate of AAMs, RILEM TC 281-CCC Working Group 6 compiled and analysed carbon...

Anaerobic digestion, a renewable energy source, is the degradation of organic waste into biogas, mainly composed of CH4 and CO2. The sector is expanding rapidly due to its multiple environmental and economic benefits. This process is implemented industrially in concrete structures that are in direct contact with the biowaste being digested and the...

The current understanding of the carbonation of alkali-activated concretes is hampered inter alia by the wide range of binder chemistries used. To overcome some of the limitations of individual studies and to identify general correlations between their mix design parameters and carbonation resistance, the RILEM TC 281-CCC working group 6 compiled c...

Alkali‐activated materials (AAMs) are binders that can complement and partially substitute the current use of conventional cement. However, the present knowledge about how AAMs protect steel reinforcement in concrete elements is incomplete, and uncertainties exist regarding the application of electrochemical methods to investigate this issue. The p...

This paper studies the behavior of four different calcined clay-based geopolymers under sulfuric acid attack and gives insights into their degradation mechanisms. Pastes were cast using metakaolin and meta-illite and were activated by two different alkaline solutions. Mineralogical and microscopic characterizations were performed on pastes before a...

Geopolymers seem to be a good alternative to ordinary Portland cement to reduce the carbon footprint of the construction industry. However, their durability over time is still a subject of discussion. One of the major problems blocking their marketing is shrinkage, which can induce excessive cracking and circulation of aggressive agents. The aim of...

During their service life, geopolymers may be in contact with Portland cementitious materials. As their porosity is open and connected, resaturation by the cementitious pore solution is possible, and may lead to the material destabilization with durability issues. This paper investigates the evolution of a sodium geopolymer after immersion tests in...

The current understanding of the carbonation and the prediction of the carbonation rate of alkali-activated concretes is complicated inter alia by the wide range of binder chemistries used and testing conditions adopted. To overcome some of the limitations of individual studies and to identify general correlations between mix design parameters and...

This study investigates the importance of washing process in the quantitative improvement of both porosity and specific surface area of geopolymer. To this end, geopolymer was synthesized using natural kaolinite clay via alkaline activation. Depending on both unwashed and washed geopolymers, the following characterization techniques were achieved:...

Small TiO 2 contents in the slag-glass significantly reduce their cementitious reactivity. We investigated the role of Ti in the glass network and its influence on slag-glass dissolution. XANES and EPR analysis showed that 67% of Ti was present as Ti(IV) with about 70% in [5] Ti and 30% in [4] Ti coordination, and 33% as Ti(III). The presence of Ti...

RILEM TC 267 TRM– “Tests for Reactivity of Supplementary Cementitious Materials” recommends the Rapid Reliable Relevant (R ³ ) test as a method for determining the chemical reactivity of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in Portland cement blends. In this paper, the R ³ test was applied to 52 materials from a wide range of conventional an...

The main purpose of this paper is to study the feasibility of producing concrete made of 100% recycled materials, by using coal fly ash (FA) or granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) activated by waste water coming from concrete production and with lime residue coming from the waste of a slaked lime factory as the binder, instead of conventional Port...

This work investigated the impact of a partial replacement of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) by ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) in two-component grouts. Maximum GGBS content reached 50 %wt of the binder. Fluidity, open time, bleeding behaviour, gel time, compressive strength development and durability with respect to sodium sulfate were...

The results of phase 1 of an interlaboratory test, coordinated by the RILEM TC 267-TRM “Tests for Reactivity of Supplementary Cementitious Materials” showed that the R3 (rapid, relevant, reliable) test method, by measurement of heat release or bound water, provided the most reliable and relevant determination of the chemical reactivity of supplemen...

In situ X-ray Micro-Tomography (XMT) analyses with a pixel size of 0.325 µm were conducted on slag-based blended cements containing 75% of Ground-Granulated Blast-Furnace Slags (GGBS) and 25% of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), with or without CaCl2 acceleration. Results show the identification of the main cementitious phases and the need to perform...

Various durability tests require a drying step to remove free water without altering the chemistry or micro-structure of the materials. However, little is known about the effects of drying on alkali-activated materials (AAMs). This study focusses on the drying stage to assess the behaviour of four alkali-activated binders compared with conventional...

The aim of this work was to benchmark several binders by testing their capacity to resist external sulfate attack (ESA) under similar experimental conditions. Concrete samples were fabricated from seven different binders: two Portland cements, one blast furnace slag Portland cement, one super sulfated ground granulated blast furnace slag cement, on...

Cements with high substitution rates of ground granulated blast furnace slags (GGBS) have the potential to significantly lower CO2 emissions of concrete, but their early age strength is often below those of traditional OPC cements. One way of mitigating this drawback is to use accelerating admixtures. In this study, the effect of CaCl2 additions on...

Ground granulated blast furnace slags (GGBS) are glassy by-products from iron production that are commonly used as supplementary cementitious materials in blended cements. The glass structure of seven industrial GGBS was investigated by Raman and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. The complex composition of the slags induced multiple analyt...

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the properties of four alkali-activated materials subjected to precasting and in situ concreting conditions: fluctuations in water content (±5%) and in temperature (10 °C, 20 °C, 30 °C). The initial slump and compressive strengths at 1, 2, 7, 28 and 90 days of a metakaolin-based geopolymer, and of sodium silicat...

Spreader Stoker thermal power plants are initially used to burn bagasse during the sugarcane harvest, but also coal when the season is over. The drawback is that, compared to standard pulverized coal fly ashes, the coal fly ashes resulting from this process contain many more unburned particles. Therefore, Spreader Stoker Coal Fly Ash (SSCFA) is sen...

Le chauffage et le refroidissement des bâtiments représentent aujourd’hui une part importante de la demande énergétique. Une piste envisagée pour répondre partiellement à ces besoins est le stockage d’énergie dans les parois des bâtiments. Le stockage thermochimique a été étudié en raison des importantes quantités d’énergie mises en jeu, et l’ettri...

During the last few years, the valorization of marine sediment has been marked by the incorporation of this material in cementitious matrices. Some studies have depicted, more particularly, the use of the sediment in alkaline activation of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) for Civil Engineering applications. The objective of this work is...

Materials for construction have evolved over the years, but they still need improvement in order to be environmentally and technically better [...]

Excavation operations during construction produce millions of tons of soil sometimes with high leachable molybdenum (Mo) contents, that can lead to risks for both human health and the environment. It is therefore necessary to immobilize the Mo in excavated soils to reduce pollution and lower the costs of soil disposal. This paper studies the immobi...

Alkali-activated materials (AAM) are now seriously considered by the cement industry as an economical alternative to Portland cement, especially for its low CO2 footprint. However, their durability still remain to be assessed in more details. The aim of this study is to focus on the sample preconditioning conditions required for testing, especially...

Generally, the phosphoric acid-activated systems use aluminosilicates as raw material (e.g., metakaolin); and the addition of alkali metals (e.g., Mg or Ca) contributes to obtain best properties. Volcanic ash (Va) is an alumi-nosilicate globally available and contain these metal oxides, which makes it a suitable raw material to produce acid-activat...

Generally, the phosphoric acid-activated systems use aluminosilicates as raw material (e.g., metakaolin); and the addition of alkali metals (e.g., Mg or Ca) contributes to obtain best properties. Volcanic ash (Va) is an aluminosilicate globally available and contain these metal oxides, which makes it a suitable raw material to produce acid-activate...

In order to increase the durability of concrete in maritime environments, it is often recommended to use supplementary cementing materials such as silica fume or blast furnace slag. Metakaolin, even of low purity, also allows a significant improvement of the chloride diffusion. The aim of this work was to evaluate the characteristics of concretes b...

Ground‐granulated blast‐furnace slags (GGBS) are glasses (>99%) of the CaO‐Al2O3‐SiO2 compositional system and are widely used as supplementary cementitious materials. Differences in reactivity of GGBS were screened by modifying the content of 12 minor elements (namely Ba, Ce, Cs, Cr, K, Mn, P, Sn, Sr, Ti, V, and Zr). Scanning electron microscopy o...

This paper presents novel findings regarding the use of alkali-activated slag for the development of road applications and, more particularly, how the interactions that occur between the binder and the organic matter originally present in the soil can strongly affect its reactivity in the process of stabilization and solidification. The study uses...

This paper is part of a multi-disciplinary research program on development and application of an integrated CO2 mineralization (ICM) framework for development of carbon mineralization as a CO2 mitigation solution. ICM is viewed as a three concentric layer system: technological, industrial integration, and decision-making. The search for viable ICM...

Energy storage systems are increasingly being used to improve energy performance in industry, transport and building. The storage of energy in the form of heat is widely used in the building sector in order to increase the use of solar energy, which is necessary to streamline energy management. The storage of excess summer solar energy appears to b...

Alkaline activation of volcanic ash using Na2SiO3 as activator showed its limits because of their low reactivity, nevertheless, phosphoric acid activation using H3PO4 as activator can offer a great possibility of utilization of the latter aluminosilicate. The present study aims to determine the chemical composition of amorphous phase of volcanic as...

This work undertakes research on alkali-activated glass cullet (AAGC), with glass being recycled from various sources. Three types of glass are studied and compared: flat glass, hollow glass, and windshield glass. The study conducted yields the main formulation parameters affecting the behavior of AAGC, namely the concentration of activation soluti...

Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) is a glassy by-product of pig iron production and is commonly used in concrete industry to replace cement and thereby lower the carbon footprint of the material. Large variations in reactivity exist depending on the GGBS physical and chemical features. Here we investigate the ability of three rapid calori...

Excavation operations during construction produce several tons of soil, which frequently contain high concentrations of sulfates (>0.5 wt%). In accordance with the requirements of the French decree for waste classification for disposal, a soil containing sulfates is classified as “inert and non-hazardous waste” if the leachable sulfate concentratio...

The aim of RILEM TC 247-DTA ‘Durability Testing of Alkali-Activated Materials’ is to identify and validate methodologies for testing the durability of alkali-activated concretes. To underpin the durability testing work of this committee, five alkali-activated concrete mixes were developed based on blast furnace slag, fly ash, and flash-calcined met...

This study investigates the evolutions of the mineralogy, pore solution and porosity of magnesium potassium phosphate cement pastes (MKPC)over time in neutral and basic environments, media that MKPC pastes might encounter when used as patch repair materials or as stabilization materials for hazardous wastes. Mineralogy evolutions were characterized...

The chemical stability and caesium retention properties of a nonstoichiometric compoundK2-xNix/2[NiFe(CN)6].nH2O (KNiFCN) was studied in different pH conditions. Different solutions with controlled pH were prepared. Leaching tests were done with chemical analysis of the solutions. The compound was characterized before and after exposure by chemical...

This work aims to develop innovative cementitious solutions for stabilization/solidification process of tunnel boring muds. These muds are characterized by a high CaCO3 content, a high water content and a relatively high fineness, where the material fraction smaller than 80 µm represents almost 50% of its mass. Our interest mainly focuses on the st...

This study assesses the influence of the initial amount of water in metakaolin-based geopolymer on some of its properties in the hardened state. Results suggest a linearly decreasing influence of the amount of water on the mechanical performance of the geopolymer and showed that the majority of this water was not bonded to the structure. Moreover,...

Mineralization is a CO2 utilization solution that can possibly meet all the CO2 mitigation criteria stated by the International Energy Agency, namely CO2 emissions reduction, economic self-sufficiency and scalability. Considered as a global niche markets solution, mineralization process development is particularly challenging, as its scope is terri...

A primary aim of RILEM TC 267-TRM: “Tests for Reactivity of Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs)” is to compare and evaluate the performance of conventional and novel SCM reactivity test methods across a wide range of SCMs. To this purpose, a round robin campaign was organized to investigate 10 different tests for reactivity and 11 SCMs cove...

Dry-mix shotcrete has all the components of concrete but its particular placement technique makes itharder to study than ordinary concrete. Its durability has not been the subject of much analysis andthe aim of this paper is to bring new insights in that field. This work focuses especially on the durabilityof dry-mix shotcrete containing supplementa...

The world's energy consumption has huge environmental and socioeconomic impacts. Heat storage allows the use of renewable energy in buildings to be increased and enhances their energy storage performance. Ettringite material has the advantage of high energy storage density at low temperature (60 °C) compared to existing adsorbent materials such as...

The formation of passivation layers is the major obstacle to the development of direct aqueous mineral carbonation of magnesium silicates, one of the most promising routes for large-scale CO2 mitigation. This observation has led to considerable research efforts to prevent the formation of these layers and/or to exfoliate them continuously during th...

Ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) is a common by-product used for decades in the cement and concrete industry, and having beneficial effects on environmental properties and durability of concretes. However, GGBS reacts less rapidly than cement and the short-term compressive strength of GGBS-concretes are usually lower than the ones of Por...

The use of High Performance Concrete (HPC) in specific applications, such as tall buildings or prestressed concrete, causes a creep of the concrete. The durability of the building could be reduced because of a too important deformation of the concrete.Most HPC are cast with silica fume, therefore data on creep properties exist. According to literat...

Metakaolin (MK) is known to be a highly pozzolanic material that can be used in concrete. MK is usually produced by heating kaolin-containing clays, within the temperature range of about 600–900 ℃. This chapter summarizes the utilization of metakaolin in relevant worldwide standards, mainly in Europe and North America. The health, safety and enviro...

Renewable energy storage is now essential to enhance the energy performance of buildings and to reduce their environmental impact. Many heat storage materials can be used in the building sector in order to avoid the phase shift between solar radiation and thermal energy demand. However, the use of storage material in the building sector is hampered...

Ce chapitre présente les travaux réalisés dans le cadre du Projet National RECYBETON et de l'ANR ECOREB pour étudier l'influence des granulats de béton recyclé (GBR) sur les propriétés de durabilité des bétons. De nombreuses études antérieures ont montré que les GBR sont plus poreux que les granulats naturels et qu'ils peuvent, de ce...

This study aims to synthesize, at ambient temperature, blended metakaolin-ground granulated blast furnace slag (MK-GGBS) foam concrete (FC) presenting acceptable thermomechanical performance for use as self-bearing insulation material. First, a binder composition that could be used for MK-GGBS FC production was identified. Fourteen paste formulatio...

Carbonation of cement-based materials can lead to corrosion of the steel bars in reinforced concrete, and supplementary cementing materials (SCMs) often increase the carbonation kinetics compared to reference concretes made of cements composed of clinker only. The aim of this work was to assess the consequences, in terms of service life of structur...

Energy storage is necessary to increase the use of solar heat in buildings. Ettringite, a common hydrated phase found in cement-based materials, has the advantage of high energy storage density at low temperature (around 60 °C). The ettringite-based material was synthesized by hydration of calcium sulfoaluminate cement for heat storage. As durabili...

Studies performed on alkali-activated materials (AAMs) in recent years reveal that they could be an alternative to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The main precursors used are flash-calcined metakaolin (MK), fly ash (FA), and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS). Usually, only one precursor is used to produce an AAM. The aims of this study w...

Corrosion of steel rebar is one of the most prevalent pathologies in reinforced concrete structures. This phenomenon is affected by the presence of chloride in contact with steel disrupting the passive layer and then forming corrosion products. Chloride ingress is currently due to the diffusion inside concrete of sea water or de-icing salts. Supple...

The present study evaluates the criteria that affect the characteristics of both volcanic ashes and their alkaline activated products, hence their rational utilization. To that end, five samples of volcanic ash were examined chemically, mineralogically and physically whereas certain characteristics of their alkaline activated products were determin...

This study reports the production and characterisation of geopolymer foam concrete (GFC). This material is foreseen for use as a self-bearing insulation material. In order to identify an optimal paste composition, eight mixtures were made and are presented in a ternary diagram (dry extract of alkaline solution, flash-calcined metakaolin (MK) and fl...

Slag-based materials including mortars, concretes, Ca-geopolymers, etc., are known to display a fascinating blue/green color upon hydration. This specific color is of particular concern in applications where visual esthetics are important. Yet only limited studies have been devoted to this phenomenon so far and its origin remains unexplained. It ha...