Activation of Sulfur and Opal-Cristobalite-Tridymite Phase in Sulfur Concrete Technology

The paper investigates the influence of the metal chlorides (Al, Zn, Ti, Fe) on the properties of sulfur binder. The addition of Lewis acids stimulated the synthesis process for inorganic sulfides and sulfur concrete based on them. The resulting sulfur concrete has high performance characteristics. It was found that aluminum, titanium and iron chlorides acted as activators for sulfur ring opening, reduced the activation energy in the process and simultaneously encouraged the chemical interaction between sulfur and surface silicon of silica-containing compounds. It was revealed that the reactivity of sulfur modifiers decreased in a series of Zn>Al>Ti>Fe. Chemical modification of the silicate surface with chlorides of Zn, Al, Ti, Fe results in intended change of its chemical properties. The paper shows that modification increases a number of active reaction sites on the silicate surface. The designed technology is environmentally sound and economically feasible: it ensures the efficient use of sulfur waste from the oil and gas industry, and provides durable and corrosion resistant composite materials that have lower production cost than the known analogues. The designed materials can be used in road construction for roadbeds, paving slabs, curbstones, pavestones, gutters.