Maximizing Durability and Minimizing Impact: Electrothermal Curing in Fiber-Reinforced Alkali-Activated Composites

Abstract

This study showcases alkali-activated composites (AACs) as a groundbreaking, environmentally friendly alternative to conventional concrete by taking advantage of the wide availability and cost effectiveness of industrial byproducts such as Class F-fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) to popularize the usage of AAC in the construction site environment by eliminating thermal curing. AACs were formulated using a 1 & ratio;1 FA-GGBFS ratio, activated with sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) (Ms: 3.29, A/B:0.58), and reinforced with carbon fiber (CF), steel fiber (SF), waste wire erosion fiber (WWE), and carbon black (CB) at specific dosages to obtain optimized mechanical and thermal properties. Comprehensive durability testing, including high-temperature resistance (28 days), freezing-thawing resilience (180 days), sulfate and acid resistance (up to 360 days), electrical conductivity (28 days), and drying shrinkage (90 days), confirmed the enhanced performance of AACs under electrical curing (EC) at 20V. EC was shown to reduce freezing-thawing strength losses by 35%, limit compressive strength reductions to 8.3% at 200 degrees C in CB-reinforced samples, and deliver exceptional sulfate and acid resistance, with flexural/compressive strength (FS/CS) ratios exceeding 80% and 25%. Furthermore, the inclusion of 2% CB significantly improved electrical conductivity to 0.01667 S/cm, mitigating microcrack formation and enhancing dimensional stability. A comprehensive life cycle analysis (LCA) validated the sustainability of EC, with reductions of 25% in CO2 emissions, 40% in energy consumption, and 27% in water usage. These results establish EC-enhanced AACs as a revolutionary solution for durable, scalable, and environmentally conscious construction, addressing the critical challenges of modern infrastructure.