Effects of heat treatment on the physical properties of lightweight aggregate from water reservoir sediment

Lightweight aggregates (LWAs) were produced from water reservoir sediment with added calcium oxide by employing four heat treatments, respectively, at temperatures in the range of 1170–1230 °C. The results show that LWAs produced at temperatures above 1200 °C meet European Union regulation EN-13055-1, which states that the unit weight of LWAs should be lower than 2000 kg/m3. The bulk density was easily lowered by extending the soaking time and increasing the heating rate. The ratio of strength to unit weight of the LWA produced at 1230 °C with a short soaking time and a fast heating rate was near that of a commercial product. The level of water adsorption was below 4%, which increased initially and then decreased due to pore connections and pore sealing. The formation of a glassy phase made the LWAs treated at higher temperature rough and sealed small pores (<0.1 mm) connected to the walls of large pores (>0.2 mm). The mineral phases of the LWAs were quartz, anorthite, and hematite.