Impact of silica gel G on mechanical and microstructural properties of magnesium oxychloride

Main Article Content

Meenakshi
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1468-770X
Nisha Yadav
https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6669-3553
Bhupendra Pal

Abstract

Magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC), a type of Sorel's cement, has gained renewed attention as a sustainable building material due to its low carbon footprint and energy consumption. However, its application in construction remains limited, primarily due to its inadequate moisture resistance and the reduced early-age strength under elevated temperature conditions. This research investigates the impact of silica gel G (SG) on the properties of MOC. SG was incorporated into MOC at varying proportions (0-20% by weight of MgO) to form MOC-SG composites. The study evaluated the physical and mechanical properties of these composites, including setting time, moisture ingress resistance, and compressive strength. Additionally, FTIR, PXRD, SEM-EDX and TGA analysis were also conducted to examine the crystalline phase of the composites. SG acts as a binding agent, enhancing the strength and durability of the composite. This research demonstrates the potential of MOC-SG composite as a promising sustainable building material. Results indicate that the addition of 5% SG significantly improves the properties of MOC.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Article Details

How to Cite
[1]
Meenakshi, N. Yadav, and B. Pal, “Impact of silica gel G on mechanical and microstructural properties of magnesium oxychloride”, J. Serb. Chem. Soc., Apr. 2026.
Section
Materials

Funding data

References

A. Bentur, J. Mater. Civ. Eng., 14 (2002) 2 (https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0899-1561(2002)14:1(2))

S. T. Sorel, Comptes Rendus hebdomadaires des Séances de l’Académie des Sciences, Paris, France 65 (1867) 102 (https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k3022r/f104.item)

S. A. Walling, J. S. Provis, Chem. Rev. 116 (2016) 4170-4204 (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00463)

D. Meng, C. Unluer, E. H. Yang, S. Qian, Cem. Concr. Compos. 138 (2023) 104983 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2023.104983)

W. Shen, L. Cao, Q. Li, Z. Wen, J. Wang, Y. Liu, R. Dong, Y. Tan, R. Chen, J. Clean. Prod. 131 (2016) 20 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.05.082)

L.Wang, L. Chen, D.C.W. Tsang, Green remediation by using low-carbon cement-based stabilization/solidification approaches, in Sustainable Remediation of Contaminated Soil and Groundwater, D. Hou, Ed., Butterworth-Heinemann (2020) pp. 93-118 (https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-817982-6.00005-7)

M. Costato, Il Nuovo Cimento D 17 (1995) 545 (https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02451742)

A. Maier, D. L. Manea, Materials, 15 (2008) 1772 (https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15051772)

Q. Huang, W. Zheng, J. Dong, J. Wen, C. Chang, X. Xiao, J. Build. Eng. 57 (2022) 104923 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2022.104923)

R. N. Yadav, P. Gupta, Adv. Cem. Res., 26 (2014) 319. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1680/adcr.13.00036)

Meenakshi, Asian J. Chem. 35 (2023) 869 (https://doi.org/10.14233/ajchem.2023.26992)

N. Zhang, H. Yu, H. Ma, H. Ma, M. Ba, Composites Part B Eng. 247 (2022) 110328 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2022.110328)

Y. Guan, Z. Hu, Z. Zhang, J. Chang, W. Bi, C. R. Cheeseman, T. Zhang, Cem. Concr. Res. 143 (2021) 106387 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2021.106387)

R. A. S. Alatawi, N. H. Elsayed, W. S. Mohamed, J. Mater. Res. Technol. 8 (2019) 244 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2018.01.010)

C. Guo, N. Chen, R. Wang, J. Build. Eng. 98 (2024) 111070 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2024.111070)

C. Li, N. Zhou, P. Guo, M. Li, F. Wang, J.Li, Y. Han, Z. Wu, W. Lu, Adv. Compos. Hybrid Mater. 8 (2025) 43 (https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-024-01129-5)

Y. Li, Z. Li, H. Pei, H. Yu, Constr. Build. Mater. 102 (2016) 233 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.10.186)

B. Şimşek, Constr. Build. Mater. 320 (2022) 126250. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.126250)

Y. Yin, J. Huang, T. Wang, R. Yang, H. Hu, M. Manuka, F. Zhou, J. Min, H. Wan, D. Yuan, B. Ma, Constr. Build. Mater. 405 (2023) 133347 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.133347)

Z. Qin, J. Wu, Z. Hei, L. Wang, D. Lei, K. Liu, Y. Li, Materials 17 (2024) 2053 (https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17092053)

L. Wang, Z. Qin, J. Wu, G. Sheng, H. Wang, K. Liu, X. Dong, F. Wang, J. Jiang, Buildings 14 (2024) 41 (https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14010041)

M. Harun, U. Ali, M. Aziz, M. A. Mohamed, H. R. Khalid, S. Ahmad, A. Hanif, Res. Eng. 27 (2025) 105915 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2025.105915)

F. Ahmed, S. Rawat, Y. Zhang, Appl. Sci. 14 (2024) 3074 (https://doi.org/10.3390/app14073074)

H. M. Hamada, A. Al-Attar, M. K. Askar, S. Beddu, A. Majdi, Int. J. Concr. Struct. Mater. 19 (2025) 76 (https://doi.org/10.1186/s40069-025-00808-x)

H. Zhang, A. Luo, L. Sun, Sci. Rep. 14 (2024) 11656 (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-62602-1)

W. Chen, C. Wu, F. Chen, S. Zheng, Effects of silica fume on water-resistant property of magnesium oxychloride cement, Advances in Engineering Research, Proceedings of the 2017 6th International Conference on Energy and Environmental Protection (2017) 1251-1254 (https://doi.org/10.2991/iceep-17.2017.219)

Y. Guo, Y. X. Zhang, K. Soe, R. Wuhrer, W. D. Hutchison, H. Timmers, J. Cleaner Prod. 313 (2021) 127682 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127682)

A. Pivák, M. Pavlíková, M. Záleská, M. Lojka, O. Jankovský, Z. Pavlík, Materials 13 (2020) 2537 (https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13112537)

M. S. Elfeky, A. Mohsen, A. Maher, M. Kohail, Const. Build, Mat. 342 (2022) 127976 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.127976)

Q. Huang, W. Zheng, X. Xiao, J. Dong, J. Wen, C. Chang, Ceramics Int. 47 (2021) 34341-34351 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2021.08.347)

IS 11803 – 1986: Magnesium oxide for explosive ammunition protective compositions and pyrotechnic industry (1986)

IS 254 – 1973: Specification for magnesium chloride (1973)

IS 10132 - 1982: Method of test for materials for use in the preparation of magnesium oxychloride flooring compositions (1982)

R. E. Dinnebier, I. Halasz, D. Freyer, J. C. Hanson, Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 637 (2011) 1458 (https://doi.org/10.1002/zaac.201100139)

T. Zhang, Q. Guo, X. Chen, C. Cheeseman, H. Wang, J. Chang, Cement Conc. Compos. 157 (2025) 105941 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2025.105941)

E. A. Paukshtis, M. A. Yaranova, I. S. Batueva, B. S. Bal'zhinimaev, Micropor. Mesopor. Mat. 288 (2019) 109582 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micromeso.2019.109582)

Y. Hao, Y. Li, Constr. Build. Mater. 282 (2021) 122708 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.122708).