Physical properties and microstructure of sustainable lightweight aggregates prepared from lead–zinc tailings and fly ash under different sintering regimes

IF 3.9 3区工程技术 Q2 CONSTRUCTION & BUILDING TECHNOLOGY

Materials and Structures Pub Date : 2025-08-29 DOI:10.1617/s11527-025-02767-x

Jianxiang Huang, Shouwei Jian, Hongbo Tan, Xiangguo Li, Jian Huang, Yang Lv, Baodong Li, Xin Gao, Bo Peng, Xiwen Guan

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Abstract

Lead–zinc tailings (LZT), a low-value mining waste, pose significant environmental and health risks due to their massive accumulation. This study addresses the need for harmless and efficient treatment of LZT by successfully producing lightweight aggregates (LWA) from 100% solid waste (low-cost LZT and poor-quality fly ash) without secondary pollution. The relationship between sintering conditions and LWA properties was investigated, revealing that sintering temperature significantly influences LWA performance more than other parameters. Specifically, it is the core factor controlling particle density, while both sintering temperature and time strongly affect compressive strength. Microstructure analysis showed that over 50% of the total pore area consisted of pores with diameters of 100–1000 μm. Insufficient preheating or excessively high sintering temperatures led to the formation of pores larger than 1 mm, while extending sintering time from 20 to 40 min increased the proportion of 100–1000 μm pores. XRD and FTIR analyses indicated that strength development was attributed to the formation of aluminosilicate skeletons and feldspar phases during sintering. Life cycle assessment (LCA) revealed that sintering at 1100–1150 °C for 30–35 min optimally balances LWA strength, energy consumption, environmental impact, and cost. This study offers an innovative and eco-friendly strategy for low-energy utilization of multi-source solid waste.

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不同烧结制度下铅锌尾矿和粉煤灰制备可持续轻骨料的物理性能和微观结构

铅锌尾矿是一种低价值的矿山废弃物，其大量堆积造成了严重的环境和健康风险。本研究通过成功地从100%固体废物（低成本LZT和劣质粉煤灰）中生产出无二次污染的轻骨料（LWA），解决了对轻骨料的无害化和高效处理的需求。研究了烧结条件与LWA性能的关系，发现烧结温度对LWA性能的影响大于其他参数。具体来说，它是控制颗粒密度的核心因素，而烧结温度和时间对抗压强度有强烈的影响。微观结构分析表明，孔径在100 ~ 1000 μm之间的孔隙占总孔隙面积的50%以上。预热不足或烧结温度过高会导致气孔的形成大于1 mm，而将烧结时间从20 min延长至40 min则会增加100 ~ 1000 μm气孔的比例。XRD和FTIR分析表明，强度的发展是由于烧结过程中铝硅酸盐骨架和长石相的形成。寿命周期评估（LCA）表明，在1100-1150°C下烧结30-35分钟，可以最佳地平衡LWA强度、能耗、环境影响和成本。本研究为多源固体废物的低能耗利用提供了一种创新和环保的策略。

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来源期刊

Materials and Structures 工程技术-材料科学：综合

CiteScore

6.40

自引率

7.90%

发文量

222

审稿时长

5.9 months

期刊介绍： Materials and Structures, the flagship publication of the International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems and Structures (RILEM), provides a unique international and interdisciplinary forum for new research findings on the performance of construction materials. A leader in cutting-edge research, the journal is dedicated to the publication of high quality papers examining the fundamental properties of building materials, their characterization and processing techniques, modeling, standardization of test methods, and the application of research results in building and civil engineering. Materials and Structures also publishes comprehensive reports prepared by the RILEM’s technical committees.