Rheology and conduction calorimetry of cement modified with calcined paper sludge

This paper considers calcined paper sludge as an alternative source of metakaolin, an established supplementary cementitious material. Calcination of the sludge generated in the recycling of newsprint paper at 700 °C yields a product with pozzolanic properties. The effects of this recycled metakaolin on the rheology and conduction calorimetry of cement pastes have been studied and compared to the effects of commercial metakaolin. The effects are similar and the results show that calcined paper sludge has the potential to be used as a supplementary cementitious material. This offers a route for utilising this waste material, as an alternative to the increased environmental burden associated with the production of metakaolin from natural kaolinite resources.