SUMMARY OF THE THESIS


The industry of the Construction is a very dynamic field, where continually advances and improvements are gotten in the materials used with the purpose of offering better benefits and bigger security. Inside this advances, the use of pozzolanic materials improves the behaviour of the conglomerates incorporate them .
  
At the present work, it is studied the possible benefits obtained when incorporating the spent catalyst cracking catalytic of the petroleum (FCC) in pastes, mortars and concretes  
  
The study is has been focused in two aspects, in the first of them it is carried out a complete study about the physicochemical characterization of the catalyst, and the second it is about its use and interactions taken place when incorporating it next to the cement or the lime in pastes, mortars and concretes.  
  
The FCC is a silicoaluminate material with a mainly amorphous structure, although it presents certain crystalline content. Their reactivity has been proven that improves when undergoing a mill process that makes him reduce its particle size until a half diameter of approximately 20 µm. One of the main physical characteristics that possesses is their high index of whiteness what makes him be a suitable addition to use it next to the white cement.   
  
The study of samples of FCC of diverse origin, it has allowed to check the similarity among the residuals and  allows to affirm that it is possible their use in anyone of the cases.  
  
The incorporation of the FCC has been studied as much as replacement of Portland cement as of the arid fraction; in both cases, it has been proven that the FCC acts like a very active pozzolan from the first ages of cured. This behaviour has been corroborated with studies of fixation of lime, by means of  thermogravimetry technical.
  
 The accelerants use to get improvements in the mechanical resistances of mortars with FCC has been studied, and it is proven the existence of an synergic between the accelerant and the FCC.  
  
The existence of an synergic effect  has also settled down between the CV and the FCC when they are used in the production of mortars with low relationship water/cement. The CV contributes improvements in the workability and in the mechanical resistances of mortars to ages of  advanced cured , while the FCC contributes improvements in the resistances at short times of cured.  
  
The effect of low temperatures in mortars and pastes with FCC and with the commercial pozzolan metakaolin (MK) has been studied. It has been demonstrated that the FCC is affected in smaller measure by these low temperatures, concluding that under these conditions it is preferable the use of the FCC in front of the MK.  
  
As innovation in the field of the thermogravimetry, it has been carried out a study of thermogravimetry of high resolution (MaxRes). It has been possible to explain the identification of the different hydrate products and the evolution of the same ones in function of the age of cured.  
  
The study of the hydrate heat shows as the FCC it accelerates the hydrate processes without the total heat liberated by the sample increasing. This behaviour is outstanding since the incorporation of FCC won't produce adverse effects on the womb  
  
Lastly, it has been established that the FCC is an excellent pozzolan to use in self-compacting concretes, traditional and of high resistance, with cement ordinary Portland as white cement.