Pozzolanic activity of volcanic rocks from Southern Jiangxi Province, China

Abstract

The pozzolanic activity of volcanic rocks from southern Jiangxi Province, China, was studied in terms of material properties, pozzolanic reaction degree (PRD), and pozzolanic activity index. The pozzolanic activity component of the volcanic rocks calculated from chemical composition and amorphous phase content was appraised as a characteristic index of potential pozzolanic activity. The PRD of the volcanic rock was determined by hydrochloric acid dissolution. The pozzolanic activity index of the volcanic rocks was evaluated as the ratio of the compressive strength of the cement mortar blended with volcanic rock to that of a control cement mortar. The results showed that the volcanic rocks demonstrated great potential for pozzolanic activity in terms of pozzolanic activity component, PRD, and pozzolanic activity index, because they have high SiO₂ + Al₂O₃ contents and plentiful amorphous phases. Finally, a consistent relationship between PRD and pozzolanic activity index was found.

Keywords:

• volcanic rock
• pozzolanic activity
• amorphous phase
• chemical composition

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51168015) for this work.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially support provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 51168015].