Abstract

This study investigates the use of ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) and quartz powder as partial cement substitutes to lessen the carbon footprint associated with concrete production. Rich in silica, quartz powder improves stability, lowers water requirements, and speeds up hydration, while GGBS, a by-product of steel production, increases durability and strength. The study examines different quartz powder replacement ratios (0–25%) and reliable GGBS replacement while maintaining a water-to-cement ratio of 0.50. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were among the tests performed; the outcomes were displayed as Nyquist and Bode plots. Evaluation of carbonation resistance further showed that the ideal mix at 15% replacement improved durability, decreased porosity, increased density, and produced superior mechanical and environmental performance.

Details

Title
Exploring the synergistic effects of quartz powder and GGBS in sustainable standard strength concrete: insights from carbonation and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)
Author
Kumar, B. Narendra 1 ; Sunil, B. Sai 1 ; Bhat P, Kiran 2 

 VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering &Technology, Department of Civil Engineering, Hyderabad, India (GRID:grid.411828.6) (ISNI:0000 0001 0683 7715) 
 Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Department of Civil Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal, India (GRID:grid.411639.8) (ISNI:0000 0001 0571 5193) 
Pages
147
Publication year
2025
Publication date
Dec 2025
Publisher
Springer Nature B.V.
e-ISSN
27307727
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3234808712
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2025. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.