3.

CALCINED CLAY, SHALE &

OTHER SOILS

Asst. Prof. Dr. Şevket C. BOSTANCI

 Introduction
• Calcined soil pozzolans face a considerable competition from fly ash
and to a lesser extend from granulated blast furnace slag. However,
in many regions these waste materials are not available.

• Calcined soils may represent an economic and technical choice of

materials for supplementary cement production. However, lateritic
(brick) and bauxitic soils also exhibit some reactivity with lime,
when calcined.
Table 4. Typical chemical compositions of clays, laterite and bauxite:
SiO2 Al2O3 Fe2O3 MgO CaO Alkalies H2O
Material Composition, %
Kaolinite 45 38 1 - - - 14
Illite 53 25 1 4 1 8 6
Montmorillonite 50 20 3 6 1 2 15
Attapulgite 55 10 3 13 - - 16
Chloride 30 14 5 33 - - 14
Laterite 3 10 75 - - - 10
Bauxite 1 53 18 - - - 28
 3.2 Effects of Calcination:
• After driving off the water molecules, the soil is converted to a
quasi-amorphous substance which is reactive with lime.

• At 100C, free water may be removed.

• At 800C, hydrates will be removed.

• Heating first removes the free water and as the temperature

increases, interlayer and chemically combined water are removed.

• If heating above 1000C continues, re-crystallisation will occur. So,

calcination should be carried out at 600-800C.
 Metakaolin
• Metakaolin is prepared by calcination of kaolin (clay mineral) at a
temperature of 650-800°C. It has pozzolanic properties.

• Produced from kaolin crude clays

• An engineered product

• 1 mm in diameter

• Plate-like in shape

• Kaolin mined in middle

• Chemical formula of Metakaolin is Al2O3 . 2 SiO2 . 2H2O.

• It reacts with Ca(OH)2 one of the by-products of hydration

reaction of cement and results in additional C-S-H gel which
results in increased strength.
Chemical composition
 Physical Properties
• Physical form – powder

• Fineness of metakaolin – 700 to 900 m2/kg

• Color of metakaolin – white / grey

• Specific gravity – 2.50

• Specific surface – 8 to 15 m2 / g
 Use in high strength concrete
• When cement is partially replaced with Metakaolin, it reacts with calcium
hydroxide and results in extra C-S-H gel. C-S-H gel is the sole cause for
strength development in cement and cement based concrete.

• Cement + Water = C-S-H gel + Ca (OH)2

• Ca (OH)2 + Metakaolin = C-S-H gel

• It reduces the size of pores in cement paste by transforming finer particles

into discontinous pores.

• It increases compressive and flexural strength.

• It reduces efflorence in concrete.

 Advantages
• Strength and durability of concrete increases

• Accelerates initial setting time of concrete

• Compressive strength of concrete increases at 20% replacement levels

• Cross section of structures can be reduced safely i.e. amount of concrete

used can be reduced.

• Reduces shrinkage in concrete.

• Ecofriendly by reducing amount of CO2 emission.

• Reduces heat of hydration leading to shrinkage and crack control.

 Applications
Some applications can be stated as;

• Dams
• Bridges
• Water retaining structures
• High rise buildings
• Off shore structures
• Mass concreting
• Nuclear power stations
When metakaolin is present in concrete;
FRESH PROPERTIES
• Workability is improved up to 15% replacement levels,

• Has a potential to improve finishing characteristics.

• Increased water demand.

• Creamy product.
HARDENED PROPERTIES
• There is a potential for compressive strength increase up to
20%

• Considering durability and strength factors, it could be

economically feasible. Otherwise it could be uneconomical.

• Improves durability (ASR, sulfate & chlorides)

HARDENED PROPERTIES
• Increases heat of hydration

• Decreases bleeding
The End