CoChat
Sign Up
Cited by 8Concrete and Cement Materials ResearchWaste Management and Environmental ImpactRecycling and utilization of industrial and municipal waste in materials production

The DOI matches its Crossref record; the references it cites are not checked yet.

Experimental Study on the Mechanical Properties and Microstructural Mechanisms of Coal Gangue-Based Cementitious Materials Synergistically Activated by Desulfurization Gypsum and Lime

Open access
Wang, Luyao, Wang, Qingping, Cai, Jingyi, Zhou, Feifei, Cheng, Zhiwei, Zhang, Jiayao·2025·Polymers
DOI 10.3390/polym17070932PMC PMC11991633
Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Abstract

Coal gangue and flue gas desulfurization gypsum (DG) are industrial by-products whose utilization is critical for sustainable development. This study explores the synergistic activation of coal gangue using DG and lime to develop eco-friendly cementitious materials. Three systems—CF (coal gangue–DG), CL (coal gangue–lime), and CFL (coal gangue–DG–lime)—were designed to investigate the effects of DG and lime on coal gangue reactivity. Unconfined compressive strength tests identified the optimal dosages of DG and lime, while XRD, SEM, TGA-DTG, and NMR analyses were employed to characterize the hydration products and microstructure. The results demonstrated that calcium ions from both lime and DG facilitated the formation of C-(A)-S-H gel, enhancing strength development. However, excessive DG led to undesirable volume expansion due to ettringite overproduction, compromising material stability. Excess lime forms weak Ca(OH)2 binding phases and causes expansion and cracking from excessive hydration heat, reducing strength and durability. Thus, the optimal DG dosage in the CF system is 70%, and the optimal lime dosage in the CL system is 6%. In the CFL system, 70% DG and 4% lime achieve the best performance. The combined use of DG and lime not only improved coal gangue reactivity but also achieved an optimal balance between strength enhancement and long-term stability, offering a promising approach for sustainable construction materials.

Overview

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.3390/polym17070932

Cites

Statistics

Verification

Claims the paper makes

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

The self-check needs the paper’s full text.

Citations

The citation lists haven’t been fetched yet

References 60 · Cited by 8

Research works printed but not linked: 61

  1. Tan, 2016, Environmental effects of coal gangue and its utilization, Energy Sources Part A-Recovery Util. Environ. Eff., 38, 3716, 10.1080/15567036.2012.700997 · DOI
  2. Zhang, 2024, Research Progress of Coal Gangue Modification Method and Its Resource and Environment Utilisation, Acta Chim. Sin., 82, 527, 10.6023/A24010038 · DOI
  3. Xu, 2017, Utilization of flue gas desulfurization gypsum for producing calcium sulfoaluminate cement, J. Clean. Prod., 161, 803, 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.05.055 · DOI
  4. Xia, 2021, Integrated Assessment of the Environmental and Economic Effects of Resource Utilization Process for Lime/Gypsum Flue Gas Desulfurization Collaborative Desulfurized Gypsum, Environ. Eng. Sci., 38, 886, 10.1089/ees.2020.0424 · DOI
  5. Kang, 2019, Efficient utilisation of flue gas desulfurization gypsum as a potential material for fluoride removal, Sci. Total Environ., 649, 344, 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.416 · DOI
  6. Guo, 2021, Solid waste management in China: Policy and driving factors in 2004–2019, Resour. Conserv. Recycl., 173, 105727, 10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105727 · DOI
  7. Li, 2019, Comprehensive utilization and environmental risks of coal gangue: A review, J. Clean. Prod., 239, 117946, 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.117946 · DOI
  8. Duan, 2024, Representative coal gangue in China: Physical and chemical properties, heavy metal coupling mechanism and risk assessment, Sustain. Chem. Pharm., 37, 101402, 10.1016/j.scp.2023.101402 · DOI
  9. Zhang, 2020, Reactivity activation of waste coal gangue and its impact on the properties of cement-based materials—A review, Constr. Build. Mater., 234, 117424, 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.117424 · DOI
  10. Zheng, 2024, Environmental hazards and comprehensive utilization of solid waste coal gangue, Prog. Nat. Sci. Mater. Int., 34, 223, 10.1016/j.pnsc.2024.02.012 · DOI
  11. Liu, 2021, Production and resource utilization of flue gas desulfurized gypsum in China—A review, Environ. Pollut., 288, 117799, 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117799 · DOI
  12. Aakriti, 2023, A comprehensive review of flue gas desulphurized gypsum: Production, properties, and applications, Constr. Build. Mater., 393, 131918, 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.131918 · DOI
  13. Li, 2022, Effects of flue gas desulfurization gypsum incorporation and curing temperatures on magnesium oxysulfate cement, Constr. Build. Mater., 349, 128718, 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.128718 · DOI
  14. Hao, 2017, Heavy metals distribution characteristics of FGD gypsum samples from Shanxi province 12 coal-fired power plants and its potential environmental impacts, Fuel, 209, 238, 10.1016/j.fuel.2017.07.094 · DOI
  15. Koralegedara, 2019, Recent advances in flue gas desulfurization gypsum processes and applications—A review, J. Environ. Manag., 251, 109572, 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109572 · DOI
  16. Chen, 2021, Mechanism on Activation of Coal Gangue Admixture, Adv. Civ. Eng., 2021, 5436482, 10.1155/2021/5436482 · DOI
  17. Gong, 2007, Activity and structure of calcined coal gangue, J. Wuhan Univ. Technol.-Mater. Sci. Ed., 22, 749, 10.1007/s11595-006-4749-8 · DOI
  18. Zhao, 2023, Utilization of raw coal gangue as coarse aggregates in pavement concrete, Constr. Build. Mater., 378, 131062, 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.131062 · DOI
  19. Zhao, 2022, Toward understanding the activation and hydration mechanisms of composite activated coal gangue geopolymer, Constr. Build. Mater., 318, 125999, 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.125999 · DOI
  20. Xu, 2021, The effect of mechanical-thermal synergistic activation on the mechanical properties and microstructure of recycled powder geopolymer, J. Clean. Prod., 327, 129477, 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.129477 · DOI
  21. Hao, 2022, Thermal activation and structural transformation mechanism of kaolinitic coal gangue from Jungar coalfield, Inner Mongolia, China, Appl. Clay Sci., 223, 106508, 10.1016/j.clay.2022.106508 · DOI
  22. Liu, 2021, Synergic performance of low-kaolinite calcined coal gangue blended with limestone in cement mortars, Constr. Build. Mater., 300, 124012, 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.124012 · DOI
  23. Huang, 2018, Improving strength of calcinated coal gangue geopolymer mortars via increasing calcium content, Constr. Build. Mater., 166, 760, 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.02.005 · DOI
  24. Zhang, 2011, Pozzolanic behaviour of compound-activated red mud-coal gangue mixture, Cem. Concr. Res., 41, 270, 10.1016/j.cemconres.2010.11.013 · DOI
  25. Guo, 2024, Critical review for the potential analysis of material utilization from inorganic industrial solid waste, J. Clean. Prod., 459, 142457, 10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142457 · DOI
  26. Zhang, J., Yan, G., Bai, X., Kong, S., Li, J., Li, G., Ge, Z., and Huang, J. (2023). Resource Utilization Potential of Red Mud: A Study on the Micro-Mechanism of the Synergistic Effect of Multiple Solid Waste Filling Materials. Sustainability, 15. · DOI
  27. Hou, 2022, Calcium transfer process of cement paste for ettringite formation under different sulfate concentrations, Constr. Build. Mater., 348, 128706, 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.128706 · DOI
  28. Gou, 2023, Hydration and mechanical properties of FGD gypsum-cement-mineral powder composites, J. Build. Eng., 69, 106288, 10.1016/j.jobe.2023.106288 · DOI
  29. Ren, 2017, Preparation of high-performance cementitious materials from industrial solid waste, Constr. Build. Mater., 152, 39, 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.06.124 · DOI
  30. Wang, 2022, Properties and Hydration Mechanism of Cementitious Materials Prepared from Calcined Coal Gangue, J. Renew. Mater., 11, 1223, 10.32604/jrm.2022.022893 · DOI
  31. Divet, 1998, Delayed Ettringite Formation: The Effect of Temperature and Basicity on the Interaction of Sulphate and C-S-H Phase 11Communicated by M. Moranville-Regourd, Cem. Concr. Res., 28, 357, 10.1016/S0008-8846(98)00006-4 · DOI
  32. Wang, 2016, Stability and decomposition mechanism of ettringite in presence of ammonium sulfate solution, Constr. Build. Mater., 124, 786, 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.07.135 · DOI
  33. Wang, 2024, The ratio optimization and hydration mechanism of multi source solid waste cementitious materials, Constr. Build. Mater., 411, 134267, 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.134267 · DOI
  34. Jiang, 2018, Utilization of flue gas desulfurization gypsum as an activation agent for high-volume slag concrete, J. Clean. Prod., 205, 589, 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.09.145 · DOI
  35. Zhang, 2023, Influence of calcination and GGBS addition in preparing β-hemihydrate synthetic gypsum from phosphogypsum, Case Stud. Constr. Mater., 19, e02259
  36. Wu, 2011, Transformation of Flue-Gas-Desulfurization Gypsum to (α-Hemihydrated Gypsum in Salt Solution at Atmospheric Pressure, Chin. J. Chem. Eng., 19, 349, 10.1016/S1004-9541(11)60175-4 · DOI
  37. Antiohos, 2004, Activation of fly ash cementitious systems in the presence of quicklime: Part I. Compressive strength and pozzolanic reaction rate, Cem. Concr. Res., 34, 769, 10.1016/j.cemconres.2003.08.008 · DOI
  38. Fu, 2017, Retarding effect of impurities on the transformation kinetics of FGD gypsum to α-calcium sulfate hemihydrate under atmospheric and hydrothermal conditions, Fuel, 203, 445, 10.1016/j.fuel.2017.04.143 · DOI
  39. Zhou, 2020, The mechanical and microstructural properties of refuse mudstone-GGBS-red mud based geopolymer composites made with sand, Constr. Build. Mater., 253, 119193, 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119193 · DOI
  40. Guo, 2010, Early hydration of composite cement with thermal activated coal gangue, J. Wuhan Univ. Technol.-Mater. Sci. Ed., 25, 162, 10.1007/s11595-010-1162-0 · DOI
  41. Kong, 2024, Improvement of strength and microstructure of low-carbon cementitious materials with high volume of calcined coal gangue, Constr. Build. Mater., 444, 137916, 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.137916 · DOI
  42. Zhang, 2024, Investigation of the activator system for coal gangue and its optimal utilization in composite cementitious materials, J. Sustain. Cem.-Based Mater., 13, 1672
  43. Zhao, Y., Zhang, Z., Ji, Y., Song, L., and Ma, M. (2023). Experimental Research on Improving Activity of Calcinated Coal Gangue via Increasing Calcium Content. Materials, 16. · DOI
  44. Yang, 2017, An Experimental Study on Solidifying Municipal Sewage Sludge through Skeleton Building Using Cement and Coal Gangue, Adv. Mater. Sci. Eng., 2017, 5069581, 10.1155/2017/5069581 · DOI
  45. Wang, Q., Zhu, L., Lu, C., Liu, Y., Yu, Q., and Chen, S. (2023). Investigation on the Effect of Calcium on the Properties of Geopolymer Prepared from Uncalcined Coal Gangue. Polymers, 15. · DOI
  46. Li, 2008, The mechanical properties and hydration characteristics of cement pastes containing added-calcium coal gangue, J. Wuhan Univ. Technol.-Mater. Sci. Ed., 23, 254, 10.1007/s11595-006-2254-8 · DOI
  47. Gu, 2024, Study on the synergistic effect of calcium carbide residue-fly ash enhanced desulphurisation gypsum under high temperature maintenance condition, Constr. Build. Mater., 412, 134706, 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.134706 · DOI
  48. Wu, 2021, Utilization of solid waste high-volume calcium coal gangue in autoclaved aerated concrete: Physico-mechanical properties, hydration products and economic costs, J. Clean. Prod., 278, 123416, 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123416 · DOI
  49. Zhang, J., Yang, K., He, X., Wei, Z., Zhao, X., and Fang, J. (2022). Experimental Study on Strength Development and Engineering Performance of Coal-Based Solid Waste Paste Filling Material. Metals, 12. · DOI
  50. Dhandapani, 2021, Towards ternary binders involving limestone additions—A review, Cem. Concr. Res., 143, 106396, 10.1016/j.cemconres.2021.106396 · DOI
  51. Juenger, 2015, Recent advances in understanding the role of supplementary cementitious materials in concrete, Cem. Concr. Res., 78, 71, 10.1016/j.cemconres.2015.03.018 · DOI
  52. Min, 2008, Activation of fly ash–lime systems using calcined phosphogypsum, Constr. Build. Mater., 22, 1004, 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2006.12.005 · DOI
  53. Wang, 2006, Environmental-benign utilisation of fly ash as low-cost adsorbents, J. Hazard. Mater., 136, 482, 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2006.01.067 · DOI · Paper page
  54. Fei, 2024, Analysis of calcination activation modified coal gangue and its acid activation mechanism, J. Build. Eng., 95, 109916, 10.1016/j.jobe.2024.109916 · DOI
  55. Yan, 2023, Influence of Activated Coal Gangue Powder on Compressive Strength of Coal Gangue Coarse Aggregate Concrete, ACI Mater. J., 120, 29
  56. Zhang, W., Zhou, H., Hu, Y., Wang, J., Ma, J., Jiang, R., and Sun, J. (2024). Influence of Curing Temperature on the Performance of Calcined Coal Gangue-Limestone Blended Cements. Materials, 17. · DOI
  57. Zhang, 2009, Correlation between 29Si polymerization and cementitious activity of coal gangue, J. Zhejiang Univ.-Sci. A, 10, 1334, 10.1631/jzus.A0920237 · DOI
  58. Ma, H., Zhu, H., Yi, C., Fan, J., Chen, H., Xu, X., and Wang, T. (2019). Preparation and Reaction Mechanism Characterization of Alkali-activated Coal Gangue-Slag Materials. Materials, 12. · DOI · Paper page
  59. Liu, 2013, Effect of Multiplex Thermal Activation on Microstructure of Red Mud-Coal Gangue, Rare Met. Mater. Eng., 42, 538
  60. Li, 2010, Investigation on the activation of coal gangue by a new compound method, J. Hazard. Mater., 179, 515, 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.03.033 · DOI
  61. Guo, 2009, Structure and Pozzolanic Activity of Calcined Coal Gangue during the Process of Mechanical Activation, J. Wuhan Univ. Technol.-Mater. Sci. Ed., 24, 326, 10.1007/s11595-009-2326-7 · DOI

Metadata

Authors
Wang, L., Wang, Q., Cai, J., Zhou, F., Cheng, Z., & Zhang, J.
Affiliations
Anhui University of Science and Technology (CN)
Corresponding author
Wang, Qingping
ORCID
Venue
Polymers
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2025-03-29
Volume
17
Issue
7
Pages
932
ISSN
2073-4360 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/polym17070932
PMC
PMC11991633
OpenAlex
W4409036807
Cited by
8
References
60
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 3
FWCI
2.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Polymers (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • the National Major Scientific Research Instrument Development Project Experimental Apparatus for Multi-field Coupled Dynamic Disaster in Deep Earth Engineering (No. 52227901, GXXT-2022-083, GXXT-2023-019)
  • Anhui Province University Collaborative Innovation Project (No. 52227901, GXXT-2022-083, GXXT-2023-019)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Civil and Structural Engineering › Concrete and Cement Materials Research
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Waste Management and Environmental Impact
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Recycling and utilization of industrial and municipal waste in materials production
Keywords
coal gangue, flue gas desulfurization gypsum, lime, cementitious materials, synergistic activation, C-A-S-H gel, ettringite, volume expansion, heat of hydration, microstructure, industrial by-product utilization, unconfined compressive strength, durability

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review