INVESTIGATION OF THE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF KAOLIN-ADDED CEMENT PASTE AFTER WETTING-DRYING CYCLES

Nowadays, the development of construction materials and the search for environmentally friendly alternatives are of great importance. The use of natural minerals and additives is likely to improve the properties of cementitious composites and contribute to the development of a sustainable construction industry. In addition, the use of natural minerals, especially clays, on electrical conductivity, which is one of the parameters in the production of smart materials, is a subject that needs to be investigated. For this purpose, a research example is presented focusing on the effect of natural kaolin clay on the electrical conductivity properties of cement paste after wetting and drying cycles. Specimens were produced by substituting kaolin clay into cement paste at 5-10-15-20-25-30% ratios. The specimens were subjected to wetting-drying cycles of 5, 10, 15, and 20 cycles. At the end of the cycles, electrical conductivity measurements of the samples were made. In addition, the change in mass loss and compressive strength values of the samples due to the effect of the cycles were also examined. According to the results of the research, it was determined that the electrical conductivity properties changed positively, but the mass loss and compressive strength values showed a negative effect.