Properties of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete with Halloysite Under Industrial Conditions

This paper presents the results from the study of the effect of halloysite powders on the performance of the slow-setting silicate-based autoclaved aerated concrete (SW production technology). The clay mineral was used as a cement replacement. The material was tested at industrial scale. The test results indicated relationships between halloysite chemical properties and the properties of the ready-made product. The most important properties of the mineral from the kaolinite group include high specific surface area and chemical composition. Physical and mechanical properties were tested in terms of bulk density, porosity, thermal conductivity and compressive strength of the finished product. In addition, the testing programme included determining the influence of halloysite on the phase composition and microstructure of the aerated concrete, using the XRD analysis and SEM imaging.