Effects of Quarry By-Products on Performance of Cement-Stabilized Iron Tailings Pavement Base Materials

doi:10.16552/j.cnki.issn1001-1625.2026.0254

Abstract

Abstract:

Applying quarry by-product （QBP） to cement-stabilized iron tailings pavement base material for roads can improve the problems such as insufficient strength and shrinkage cracking of the base material caused by the fine particles of iron tailings sand， thereby achieving large-scale resource utilization of iron tailings. This paper systematically studied the effects of QBP content and the fine particle plasticity index （particle size d<0.075 mm） on the mechanical properties， volume stability， and durability of cement-stabilized iron tailings. The shrinkage strain was regulated by an expansion agent， and the mechanism of QBP was revealed through microscopic analysis. The results show that when the QBP content is 40%（mass fraction）， compared with the unmodified group， the 7 d unconfined compressive strength increases by 48.37%， the shrinkage strain decreases by 42.50%， and the frost resistance coefficient and water stability coefficient increase by 15.22% and 13.83%， respectively. Increasing the fine particle plasticity index improves the mechanical and durability properties of cement-stabilized iron tailings， but it also increases the risk of shrinkage cracking. After adding expansion agent， the shrinkage strain decreases by 48.69% compared with the unadulterated group， and is almost equivalent to the shrinkage strain of cement-stabilized crushed stone of the same strength grade. Microscopic analysis shows that QBP can optimize the packing structure of the cement-stabilized iron tailings mixture， improve the density and reduce the porosity， thereby improving the road performance.

Key words: iron tailings, quarry by-product, pavement base material, expansive agent, plasticity index, durability

CLC Number:

U414

CHEN Xiao, MA Xikai, JIANG Rui, SHU Yang, HUANG Min, HUANG Shijie. Effects of Quarry By-Products on Performance of Cement-Stabilized Iron Tailings Pavement Base Materials[J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2026, 45(9): 3330-3340.

Figures/Tables 17

Table 1 Main chemical composition of cement， iron tailings and QBP

Material	Mass fraction/%
Material	SiO₂	CaO	Fe₂O₃	Al₂O₃	SO₃	MgO	K₂O	Na₂O	Loss
Cement	17.59	60.62	5.33	4.58	2.65	2.67	0.68	0.09	3.33
Iron tailings	36.60	25.90	22.93	8.59	0.53	0.86	1.01	1.63	1.26
QBP	17.73	61.69	2.39	7.79	0.24	8.07	0.97	0.15	0.73

Table 2 Main properties of cement and expansive agent

Main property

Specific surface

area/（m²·kg^-1）

Initial setting

time/min

Final setting

time/min

28 d free

expansion rate/%

Compressive strength/MPa

Flexural strength/MPa

Fig.1 Mineral composition and particle gradation of iron tailings

Fig.2 Mineral composition and particle gradation of QBP

Table 3 Mix proportion design of cement-stabilized iron tailings

No.	Mass fraction/%						Optimum moisture content/%	Plasticity index	Maximum dry density/（g·cm^-3）
No.	Cement	Iron tailings	QBP	Bentonite	Expanding agent	Natural aggregate	Optimum moisture content/%	Plasticity index	Maximum dry density/（g·cm^-3）
Q-0	6	100	0	0	0	—	8.87	22	1.951
Q-20	6	80	20	0	0	—	8.32	22	1.998
Q-40	6	60	40	0	0	—	7.75	22	2.045
Q-60	6	40	60	0	0	—	8.02	22	2.012
QX-22	6	80	20	0	0	—	8.32	22	1.998
QX-37	6	80	18.97	1.03	0	—	8.57	37	2.028
QX-55	6	80	17.94	2.06	0	—	8.79	55	2.051
Q-6	6	80	20	0	0	—	8.32	22	1.998
QS-6-8	5.52	80	20	0	0.48	—	8.32	22	1.998
C-4	4	—	—	—	—	100	6.57	—	2.263

Table 4 Mix proportion design of iron tailings cement mortar

No.	Content/g					Partical plasticity index
No.	Cement	Iron tailings sand	QBP	Bentonite	Water	Partical plasticity index
Q-0	450	1 350	0	0	225	22
Q-20	450	1 080	270	0	225	22
Q-40	450	810	540	0	225	22
Q-60	450	540	810	0	225	22
QX-22	450	1 080	270	0	225	22
QX-37	450	1 080	256	14	225	37
QX-55	450	1 080	242	28	225	55

Fig.3 Effects of QBP content and fine particle plastic index on flowability of iron tailings cement mortar

Fig.4 Effect of different QBP content on mechanical properties of cement-stabilized iron tailings

Fig.5 Effect of different QBP content on shrinkage performance of cement-stabilized iron tailings

Fig.6 Effect of different QBP content on durability of cement-stabilized iron tailings

Fig.7 Effect of fine particle plasticity index on unconfined compressive strength of cement-stabilized iron tailings

Fig.8 Fig. 8　Effect of fine particle plasticity index on shrinkage performance of cement-stabilized iron tailings

Fig.9 Effect of fine particle plasticity index on durability of cement-stabilized iron tailings

Fig.10 Effect of expansive agent on mechanical property of cement-stabilized iron tailings

Fig.11 Effect of expansive agent on shrinkage performance of cement-stabilized iron tailings

Fig.12 Effect of expansive agent on durability of cement-stabilized iron tailings

Fig.13 SEM images of cement-stabilized iron tailings

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