This paper experimentally comparing the mechanical properties between ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and unground blast furnace slag (GBS) as a partial replacement for cement for the production of foam concrete. A total of 14 foam concrete mixes were prepared under a design density of 1,300 kg/m³, two different filler-to-binder ratios, and cement replacement levels of 30–70% of the weight of the binder. A soluble salt of polymeric sulfonates of organic compounds (PS-1) was added to the mixes, with GGBS and GBS replacements at a dosage varying from 0.2–2% of the total cementitious material. Compressive, flexural, and tensile strengths were investigated for up to 90 days. Results show that foam concrete with superior quality as compared with that of the control mix can be produced by using GBS. Results show that 30% GBS foam concrete mix exhibited higher compressive, flexural, and splitting tensile strengths than the control mix of GBS at all ages for both filler-to-binder ratios.

For many years, supplementary cementation materials have been utilized as cement or filler replacements to heighten the properties of concrete. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the effects of un-processed blast furnace slag (RS) on the compressive, splitting tensile and flexural strengths of foam concrete over periods of 7, 14 and 28 days. The introduction of slag to the cement begins at 30% and rises to 70% of the total content. Six mixes, which include the control mix with a similar mix ratio (1:2:0.45) and a dry density of 1300 kg/m3 is generated. Taking into consideration, from the total weight of the cementation material, 1% of super- plasticizer (PS-1) is added to the mixes with slag content. Test results revealed that the most favourable (optimum) replacement level of un-processed slag in foam concrete is 30%. This represents a commercial advantage as the cement requirement is reduced from 414 Kg/m3 to 290 Kg/m3. On the 28th day, the optimum mix showed higher values than the control mix by 32% for compressive strength, 46.5% for splitting tensile strength and 61% for flexural strength.

This study is a part of an on-going research examining the properties of foam concrete when replacing the cement with semi-processed Oil Palm Ash (OPA). Replacements range from 25% to 65% were used for a mix having the mix ratio of (1:2:0.45) and having the target density of 1300kg/m3. All mixes were tested for their strength using the compressive, splitting tensile and flexural strengths up to the age of 28 days. Results show that a 25% replacement level exhibited higher compressive and splitting tensile strength than that of the control mix at the age of 28 days. However, the same replacement level exhibited a close strength to that of the control mix when tested for the flexural strength at the same age.

This study is a part of an on-going research studying the effect of blast furnace slag as a binder and filler replacement on the properties of fresh and hardened foam concrete. A mix having the density of 1300kg/m3 with a proportion of (1 cement:2 sand), W/C ratio of 0.45, a commercially available additive (SP-1), class F fly ash and a unprocessed blast furnace slag was used. The results show that the mix containing the slag achieved a higher compressive strength (6.31MPa at 28 days) than that of the control mix at the same age (5.81MPa). In addition, combining both slag and fly ash as a cement replacement further enhanced the compressive strength achieving higher compressive strengths. Also, a more stable mix was achieved by the slag replacement when compared to the control mix. This result concludes that the unprocessed slag is a good pozzolanic material that can be used with foam concrete.

The limitations of conventional cement mortar as a widely used construction material include low tensile capacity, high permeability, and susceptibility to chemical degradation. The increasing demand for durable and sustainable construction materials has led to increased attention in modifying cementitious materials through nanotechnology. This study investigates the influence of nano-silica (NS) and nano-alumina (NA) on the physical, strength-related, and durability characteristics of cement mortar to determine the optimum nanomaterial type and dosage for performance enhancement. Six mortar mixes, in addition to a reference mix, were designed and prepared by adding 1%, 1.5%, and 2% of the cement weight with NS and NA separately, and were evaluated for flowability, setting time, density, porosity, sorptivity, compressive and flexural strength, rapid chloride penetration, acid resistance, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis. Both NS and NA slightly reduced flowability but enhanced strength and durability. Incorporation of 1.5% NS yielded the highest 28-day compressive strength (95 MPa), around 12% higher than the control mix, whereas 1% NA resulted in the greatest early-age strength gain. Both nanomaterials enhanced matrix densification, leading to reductions in porosity (up to 22%) and chloride permeability (up to 44%) for NS. In summary, these findings demonstrate that NS outperforms NA in terms of reactivity and durability. Optimal dosages were identified as 1.5% for NS and 1% for NA, providing the best balance of workability, mechanical enhancement, and durability improvements. These results highlight the effectiveness of nanomaterial incorporation as a promising approach to developing high-performance, durable cement mortars suitable for advanced infrastructure applications.