Performance and Comprehensive Benefit of Eco-Friendly Ultra-High Performance Concrete with Molybdenum Tailings

doi:10.16552/j.cnki.issn1001-1625.2026.0154

Abstract

Abstract:

To address the prominent issues of high carbon emissions and high energy consumption in the production of ultra-high performance concrete （UHPC）， this study proposed a synergistic utilization strategy for molybdenum tailings powder and sand， aiming to realize the high-value utilization of all components of molybdenum tailings. The mix proportion of UHPC was optimized based on the particle closest packing theory and wet packing density method. Eco-friendly UHPC was prepared by substituting cementitious materials with mechanically activated molybdenum tailings powder and quartz sand with molybdenum tailings sand， and the performance and comprehensive benefit of UHPC were studied. The results indicate that UHPC exhibits favorable workability， high compressive strength and a dense pore structure when the replacement rate of molybdenum tailings powder is no more than 30% （mass fraction） or that of molybdenum tailings sand is no more than 75% （mass fraction）. The eco-friendly UHPC prepared with 20% （mass fraction） molybdenum tailings powder and 75% （mass fraction） molybdenum tailings sand exhibits a slump flow of 585 mm， meeting the workability requirements for construction. Its compressive strength reaches 154.8 MPa， an increase of 3.1% compared with that of the reference group （without molybdenum tailings）. The resource utilization rate of molybdenum tailings attains 48.8%， and the carbon emissions， energy consumption and material costs per unit strength per unit volume are reduced by 17.5%， 14.9% and 30.6% respectively relative to the reference group. This study provides references for the low-carbon preparation of UHPC and the high-value conversion of molybdenum tailings.

Key words: molybdenum tailing, ultra-high performance concrete （UHPC）, workability, mechanical property, pore structure, comprehensive benefit

CLC Number:

TU528.572

FENG Junjie, LI Yixiao, MA Yan, GENG Shenghan, SHEN Xingyue, YAN Shaoyang, WANG Xinwu, LIU Qi. Performance and Comprehensive Benefit of Eco-Friendly Ultra-High Performance Concrete with Molybdenum Tailings[J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2026, 45(8): 2782-2793.

Figures/Tables 17

References 23

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Raw material	Mass fraction/%
Raw material	SiO₂	CaO	Al₂O₃	Fe₂O₃	MgO	Na₂O	K₂O	SO₃	LOI
Cement	19.38	63.07	4.58	3.28	2.79	0.18	1.03	0.25	1.54
Silica fume	95.11	0.52	1.21	0.53	0.46	0.21	0.32	0.17	1.32
Fly ash cenospheres	45.10	5.60	24.20	8.85	1.61	1.52	0.11	2.10	1.80
Quartz sand	99.20	0.02	0.18	0.02	0.01	—	—	—	—
Molybdenum tailings	57.81	13.12	8.53	8.64	2.34	1.68	2.16	2.27	2.42

Raw material	Mass fraction/%
Raw material	SiO₂	CaO	Al₂O₃	Fe₂O₃	MgO	Na₂O	K₂O	SO₃	LOI
Cement	19.38	63.07	4.58	3.28	2.79	0.18	1.03	0.25	1.54
Silica fume	95.11	0.52	1.21	0.53	0.46	0.21	0.32	0.17	1.32
Fly ash cenospheres	45.10	5.60	24.20	8.85	1.61	1.52	0.11	2.10	1.80
Quartz sand	99.20	0.02	0.18	0.02	0.01	—	—	—	—
Molybdenum tailings	57.81	13.12	8.53	8.64	2.34	1.68	2.16	2.27	2.42

Sample group	MTP content/%	MTS content/%	Mix proportion/（kg·m^-3）
Sample group	MTP content/%	MTS content/%	Cement	Silica fume	Fly ash cenospheres	MTP	Quartz sand	MTS	Steel fibers	Water	Superplasticizer
Ref.	0	0	715	165	220	0	1 210	0	156	165	28
MTP10	10	0	644	149	198	110	1 210	0	156	165	28
MTP20	20	0	572	132	176	220	1 210	0	156	165	28
MTP30	30	0	501	116	154	330	1 210	0	156	165	28
MTP40	40	0	429	99	132	440	1 210	0	156	165	28
MTS25	0	25	715	165	220	0	908	303	156	165	28
MTS50	0	50	715	165	220	0	605	605	156	165	28
MTS75	0	75	715	165	220	0	303	908	156	165	28
MTS100	0	100	715	165	220	0	0	1 210	156	165	28

Sample group	MTP content/%	MTS content/%	Mix proportion/（kg·m^-3）
Sample group	MTP content/%	MTS content/%	Cement	Silica fume	Fly ash cenospheres	MTP	Quartz sand	MTS	Steel fibers	Water	Superplasticizer
Ref.	0	0	715	165	220	0	1 210	0	156	165	28
MTP10	10	0	644	149	198	110	1 210	0	156	165	28
MTP20	20	0	572	132	176	220	1 210	0	156	165	28
MTP30	30	0	501	116	154	330	1 210	0	156	165	28
MTP40	40	0	429	99	132	440	1 210	0	156	165	28
MTS25	0	25	715	165	220	0	908	303	156	165	28
MTS50	0	50	715	165	220	0	605	605	156	165	28
MTS75	0	75	715	165	220	0	303	908	156	165	28
MTS100	0	100	715	165	220	0	0	1 210	156	165	28

Sample group	Mix proportion/（kg·m^-3）
Sample group	Cement	Silica fume	Fly ash cenospheres	MTP	Quartz sand	MTS	Steel fibers	Water	Superplasticizer
MTP20MTS50	572	132	176	220	605	605	156	165	28
MTP20MTS75	572	132	176	220	303	908	156	165	28
MTP30MTS50	501	116	154	330	605	605	156	165	28
MTP30MTS75	501	116	154	330	303	908	156	165	28