Abstract
In this study, binary ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS)/calcined clay cements activated by 4 M NaOH and cured at ambient temperature were investigated to determine the correlation of the mechanical properties and phase-formation behavior of the mixed cements with respect to the percentage, amount, and chemistry of the reactive phases of the calcined clays. A calcined kaolinite/montmorillonite calcined clay containing 60% reactive phase was found to be suitable as a secondary precursor in blended cements. The optimal formulation of the alkali-activated GGBFS/calcined clay was 70/30, having a 28-day compressive strength of 30 MPa and corresponding to , , , and . X-ray diffraction, thermal, and Fourier-transform infrared analyses revealed that the reaction products of the blended cements were a gel, calcite, and zeolites. Experimental–statistical modeling showed that the reactive-phase parts in the calcined clays and the oxide ratio were statistically the most responsible for the strength of the mixed alkali-activated cements.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
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Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 34 • Issue 6 • June 2022
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© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: May 25, 2021
Accepted: Oct 21, 2021
Published online: Mar 26, 2022
Published in print: Jun 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Aug 26, 2022
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