Mechanism of Mechanical and Thermal Activation to Improve Activity of Ferronickel Slag

doi:10.16552/j.cnki.issn1001-1625.2025.1179

Abstract

Abstract:

To achieve efficient resource utilization of ferronickel slag， this study systematically investigated the influence of mechanical and thermal activation on its pozzolanic activity. The particle characteristics， crystal structure， mechanical properties， and electrochemical behavior of ferronickel slag under different activation conditions were comprehensively characterized by laser particle size analysis， X-ray diffraction （XRD）， specific strength method， and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy characterization method. The results indicate that mechanical activation for 60 min can significantly refine the particle size and induce the lattice amorphization， so that the 28 d activity index of ferronickel slag is increased to 0.88. Thermal activation at 500 ℃ effectively destabilizes the crystalline phases and enhances the dissolution of active components， so that the 28 d activity index of ferronickel slag is 0.93. Electrochemical analysis further reveals that these optimized conditions significantly increase the charge transfer resistance of the system and encourage the development of a denser microstructure. This study clarifies the optimal pathways for enhancing the activity of ferronickel slag through mechanical and thermal activation， providing a foundation for its effective application in cementitious materials.

Key words: ferronickel slag, mechanical activation, thermal activation, activity index, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

CLC Number:

TQ172.4⁺4

LYU Peng, LU Boyong, QIAN Lun, HUANG Shenye, SONG Jiaxin, XIE Longjie, HUANG Wei. Mechanism of Mechanical and Thermal Activation to Improve Activity of Ferronickel Slag[J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2026, 45(7): 2357-2367.

Figures/Tables 15

References 23

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Sample No.	Cementitious material			Quartz sand mass/g	Water mass/g	Mechanical activation time/min	Thermal activation temperature/℃
Sample No.	Ferronickel slag mass/g	Slag mass/g	Cement mass/g	Quartz sand mass/g	Water mass/g	Mechanical activation time/min	Thermal activation temperature/℃
S1-30%	0	127.2	296.8	954	169.6	0	—
C1-0%	0	0	424.0	954	169.6	0	—
M0-30%	127.2	0	296.8	954	169.6	0	—
M1-30%	127.2	0	296.8	954	169.6	40	—
M2-30%	127.2	0	296.8	954	169.6	50	—
M3-30%	127.2	0	296.8	954	169.6	60	—
M4-30%	127.2	0	296.8	954	169.6	70	—
T0-30%	127.2	0	296.8	954	169.6	—	0
T1-30%	127.2	0	296.8	954	169.6	—	400
T2-30%	127.2	0	296.8	954	169.6	—	500
T3-30%	127.2	0	296.8	954	169.6	—	600
T4-30%	127.2	0	296.8	954	169.6	—	700

Sample No.	Cementitious material			Quartz sand mass/g	Water mass/g	Mechanical activation time/min	Thermal activation temperature/℃
Sample No.	Ferronickel slag mass/g	Slag mass/g	Cement mass/g	Quartz sand mass/g	Water mass/g	Mechanical activation time/min	Thermal activation temperature/℃
S1-30%	0	127.2	296.8	954	169.6	0	—
C1-0%	0	0	424.0	954	169.6	0	—
M0-30%	127.2	0	296.8	954	169.6	0	—
M1-30%	127.2	0	296.8	954	169.6	40	—
M2-30%	127.2	0	296.8	954	169.6	50	—
M3-30%	127.2	0	296.8	954	169.6	60	—
M4-30%	127.2	0	296.8	954	169.6	70	—
T0-30%	127.2	0	296.8	954	169.6	—	0
T1-30%	127.2	0	296.8	954	169.6	—	400
T2-30%	127.2	0	296.8	954	169.6	—	500
T3-30%	127.2	0	296.8	954	169.6	—	600
T4-30%	127.2	0	296.8	954	169.6	—	700

Curing age/d	Activity index
Curing age/d	M0-30%	M1-30%	M2-30%	M3-30%	M4-30%
3	0.62	0.67	0.70	0.75	0.66
7	0.64	0.71	0.75	0.80	0.70
28	0.72	0.79	0.81	0.88	0.77

Curing age/d	Activity index
Curing age/d	M0-30%	M1-30%	M2-30%	M3-30%	M4-30%
3	0.62	0.67	0.70	0.75	0.66
7	0.64	0.71	0.75	0.80	0.70
28	0.72	0.79	0.81	0.88	0.77

Curing age/d	Activity index
Curing age/d	T0-30%	T1-30%	T2-30%	T3-30%	T4-30%
3	0.61	0.84	0.88	0.84	0.77
7	0.63	0.86	0.92	0.85	0.81
28	0.73	0.81	0.93	0.83	0.80