Heat-resistant composites based on ternary binders with a low cement content: Characterisation and performance

A reduction in cement consumption can be achieved through the use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). In addition, the utilization of more than one SCM can show a beneficial synergic performance. In this paper, a combination of calcium aluminate cement, alumina admixtures and one other type of SCM was investigated. Namely: microsilica, ferrite powder, ceramic dust, calcined shale and sintered mullite were employed. The phase compositions of the designed binders were primarily characterised by XRD, XRF, DSC and SEM. Subsequently, the basic physical and mechanical properties as well as thermal expansion of the ternary binder-based composites up to 1400 °C were determined. The results revealed the synergic performance of used components. Calcined shale and ceramic powder were the most promising admixtures, exhibiting compressive strength of 80 MPa at room temperature and 117 and 128 MPa for ceramic powder and calcined shale, respectively, after exposure to 1400 °C.