Investigation of the Properties and Influence of Foaming Agents on the Properties of Alkali-Activated Binders

Abstract

One of the main influential components of the properties of foam concrete is a foaming agent. The choice of a foaming agent to a certain extent determines both the production technology of the porous material and the technical and operational characteristics of the products obtained. Different properties of the foaming agent affect the structure of formation, formation, and hardening of the porous mass in different ways, affect the subsequent operational characteristics of buildings and structures built of foam concrete. To assess the quality of foaming solutions and foams prepared from them, different criteria apply in different industries. To date, there is no universal approach to assessing the effectiveness of a particular blowing agent. For each specific case of applicability, its own evaluation criteria and its, sometimes mutually exclusive, characteristics are important. The article presents the results of studies of the properties of foaming agents and their influence on the properties of alkali-activated binders.