Low-Carbon Autoclaved Alkali-Activated Blast Furnace Slag Concrete: Microstructure and Mechanical Properties

Abstract

This paper presents a microstructural, mineralogical, and mechanical study of low-carbon autoclaved concrete (AC), achieved by partially or fully replacing ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with ground-granulated blast furnace slag (BFS) and substituting lime with calcium carbide slag (CCS). Fourteen mixes were produced and evaluated in the green state and after autoclaving. Quantitative X-ray diffraction (XRD) using the Rietveld method, density, compressive strength, and life cycle assessment (LCA) were conducted. Results show that mixes containing BFS achieve green strengths equal to or higher than the OPC reference, ensuring integrity during autoclaving. Using BFS with an adequate calcium supply promotes the formation of pre-autoclave portlandite, which in turn favors tobermorite development and yields post-autoclave strengths comparable to the OPC reference. Partial lime replacement with CCS (50%) maintains mineralogy and strength, whereas excessive CCS may reduce available portlandite and lower strength. Life-cycle assessment indicates that raw material supply dominates emissions and that removing OPC cuts total CO2 by 44% without compromising mechanical performance. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of OPC-lean/OPC-free, lime-optimized autoclaved concretes with substantially lower embodied impacts.