Characteristics of Metakaolin Metakaolin

and its use in concrete • Calcination of clay mineral (kaolin) at

moderately-high temperature (650-800oC)
• Breaks down the crystal structure producing
a transition phase (silica and amorphous
alumina in reactive form) of high surface area
• Optimum burning temperature will depend
on the base mineral used
• Burning at higher temperature will cause
recrystallization into quartz and mullite
(inert materials)
CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory

Metakaolin
• Pozzolanic reaction in concrete
! C3 S / C2 S (clinker) + H 2O ----> Calcium Silicate
Hydrates (C-S-H) + Ca(OH)2
! Ca(OH) 2 + MK ---> C-S-H pouzzpouzz.. + crystalline
products (C2ASH 8 , C4 AH13 , C3 AH6 )
! Highly-reactive pozzolan with high specific
surface
Metakaolin
• When used in concrete
! Replacement level of PC will depend on the nature
of the constituents and the To and reaction time
! Produces significant pore refinement --> modifies
water transport properties and diffusion rates of
harmful ions
! Enhances several mechanical (early-age
compressive strength, flexural strength) and
durability properties (chemical attack, ASR
expansion, sulphate resistance, F/T cycles) of
concrete

Metakaolin Chemical Analysis of

! Increases water demand ==> superplasticizers
Cementititous Materials
for workability; may require less SP than SF, Chemical
Cementitious Materials
have better finishability and being less sticky Composition, %
Type 1
Metakaolin
Silica
than SF concrete Cement Fume
Silicon dioxide, SiO 2 20.1 51.34 93.6
• Could be very beneficial in ternary systems
! PC + GGBFS + MK Aluminum oxide, Al 2O 3 4.51 41.95 0.06
! PC + FA + MK
Ferric oxide, Fe2O 3 2.50 0.52 0.45
! The contrasting behaviours of FA and MK can
be utilized with maximum benefit in terms of Calcium oxide, CaO 61.3 0.34 0.50
the finished products with respect to the flow Loss on Ignition 2.41 0.72 2.26
behaviour,, strength development and cost
behaviour
Zhang & Malhotra (1995)

1
 Microtexture of Products Physical Properties of
Cementititous Materials
Cementitious Materials
Physical Properties Type 1 Silica
Metakaolin
Cement Fume
Specific gravity 3.09 2.50 2.20

< 1µm Specific Surface Blaine

2 373
fineness, m /kg
Silica Fume Metakaolin Nitrogen Absorption,
2 16.8 20.9
m /g

Typical median particle size: ~10 µm for PC,

1.3 µm for MK and 0.1 µm for SF
Zhang & Malhotra (1995) Zhang & Malhotra (1995)

Metakaolin - Mineralogy Type of concrete Investigated

• Type of concrete investigated
? Control
? 10% Metakaolin
? 10% Silica Fume
• Mixture proportioning
? W / C + SCM = 0.40
? Cementititous materials content: 390 kg/m3
• Properties of fresh concrete
? Slump : 80 - 170 mm
? Air Content: 5.5 - 6.1 %
Zhang & Malhotra (1995) Zhang & Malhotra (1995)

Setting Times of Concrete Mechanical Properties of Concrete

Compressive
Setting Time, Concrete Strength, Days
h:min Mixture SF
Concrete Mixture (Mpa) MK
Initial Final
1 7 28 90 Con
Set Set
Control 20.9 28.9 36.4 42.5
Control n/a 5:12
MK, 10% 25.0 37.9 39.9 43.0
Metakaolin, 10% 3:06 4:24
SF, 10% 23.2 34.7 44.4 48.0
Silica Fume, 10% 3:36 4:48

Zhang & Malhotra (1995) Zhang & Malhotra (1995)

2
 Mechanical Properties of Concrete Resistance to Chloride-
Properties of Hardened Concrete ion Penetration (RCIP)
Splitting Flexural, E
Concrete Mixture RCIP RCIP
tensile, 28 28 days, Modulus, Concrete
days, MPa MPa GPa 28 days, 90 days,
Mixture
Coulombs Coulombs
Control 2.7 6.3 29.6
Control 3175 1875
Metakaolin, 10% 3.1 7.4 32.0
Metakaolin, 390 300
10%
Silica Fume, 10% 2.8 7.0 31.1
Silica Fume,
410 360
10%

Zhang & Malhotra (1995) Zhang & Malhotra (1995)

Resistance to Freezing and Results of De-icing Salt Scaling Tests

Thawing Cycles (ASTM C 666) Visual Scaling
Concrete Rating, Residue,
2
Mixture ASTM kg/m
Residual
Air Durability C 672
Concrete Flexural
Content, Factor, Control 2 0.3
Mixture Strength,
% % MK, 10% 3 0.9 Rating 0
%
Control 6.6 98.3 85 SF, 10% 3 0.8

MK, 10% 4.9 100.3 89

SF, 10% 5.0 100.9 96

Rating 1 Rating 3 Rating 5

Zhang & Malhotra (1995)

Zhang & Malhotra (1995)

Drying Shrinkage of Concrete Heat Generation of Concrete

Zhang & Malhotra (1995) Zhang & Malhotra (1995)

3
 Conclusion
• Metakaolin is a highly pozzolanic and
“reactive” material
• Metakaolin improves most mechanical and
durability properties of concrete
• Properties of concrete incorporating MK are
comparable and sometimes better than SF
concrete.