Effect of Sodium Sulfate Activator on Compressive Strength and Hydration of Fly-Ash Cement Pastes
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 32, Issue 6
Abstract
In the study, the effect of 4% sodium sulfate () as an activator on cement pastes with 0%, 20%, and 40% fly-ash replacements and a low water-to-cementitious materials ratio of 0.30 was investigated. The investigation was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the technique for the utilization of fly ash in developing sustainable concrete. The use of decreased setting times of the fresh pastes and increased compressive strength of the hardened pastes up to 28 days irrespective of fly-ash replacement. The use decreased content in the hardened pastes irrespective of fly-ash replacement. Meanwhile, it increased consumption by the pozzolanic reaction of fly ash and content of calcium silicate and aluminate hydrates in the hardened fly-ash–cement pastes. Consequently, the use of negatively affected cement hydration in the hardened cement pastes without fly ash, while it accelerated ettringite formation and pozzolanic reaction of fly ash in the hardened pastes.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the undergraduate and graduate students of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, VNU-HCM, Vietnam, and Hiroshima University, Japan for their experiments in the study. The authors also thank Mr. Le Dai Thanh, Ha Tien 1 Cement Joint Stock Company, and Mr. Lam Quan Buu Loc, Saigon Development Corporation, for material support.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 32 • Issue 6 • June 2020
Copyright
©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 10, 2019
Accepted: Nov 18, 2019
Published online: Mar 19, 2020
Published in print: Jun 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Aug 19, 2020
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