Effect of curing methods on strength and microstructure development in rice husk ash-based magnesium silicate binders

The environmental impact of Portland cement production has intensified the search for alternative low-carbon cement. Reactive magnesium oxide cement has emerged as a promising option. The current study investigates the hydration behavior, strength development, and phase evolution of MgO and MgO-RHA blends cured under sealed and carbonation conditions. Two RHA sources with differing amorphous content and particle size were used. A detailed investigation was conducted using various techniques, including calorimetry, TGA, FTIR, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and SEM. Results showed that higher glassy content and finer particles in RHA enhanced cumulative heat release, hydration product formation, and compressive strength. Carbonation curing further improved strength consistently by promoting the formation of nesquehonite and magnesium silicate hydrate. Quantitative XRD revealed that M-S-H formation was influenced by the consumption of periclase and unreacted glassy phase. Raman and FTIR analyses confirmed significant chemical and structural transformations, including the formation of brucite, nesquehonite, and carbonate phases. The D and G-band features in MgO-RHA samples suggested variations in carbonated products, influenced by processing conditions. Finally, SEM analysis revealed various carbonated products, M-S-H, and a dense microstructure. Overall, the study emphasizes the critical role of RHA properties and curing strategies in optimizing the performance of MgO-RHA systems for sustainable binder applications.