Reaction Kinetics and Fresh State Properties of Alkali-Activated Slag Mixtures with Secondary Precursors
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 36, Issue 2
Abstract
In this study, the effects of the incorporation of various supplementary materials such as fly ash, limestone powder, silica fume, and portland cement as the secondary precursor on the early age reaction, structural buildup, rheology, and microstructure of alkali-activated slag cements (AAC) in the presence of two different activators (sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate) have been investigated. Test results showed that the activator type influenced the reaction process and the setting time of AAC pastes could be estimated by the specific cumulative heat release or ultrasonic pulse velocity range. AAC pastes containing the investigated secondary precursors showed Bingham fluid behavior. Early structural buildup tests suggested that the silica fume or portland cement addition seems beneficial for 3D printing applications, while the fly ash or limestone addition could be preferred for multilayer casting. The main reaction products for the AAC pastes incorporating various secondary precursors were characterized as a chain-like C-(N)-A-S-H/C-(A)-S-H or C-S-H using SEM/EDX analyses.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
This paper is a scientific output of the research actions performed in the framework of the FWO-EOS Project 30439691 “INTERdisciplinary multiscale Assessment of a new generation of Concrete with alkali-activated maTerials” (INTERACT). The financial support by FWO-EOS is gratefully acknowledged.
Author contributions: Xiaodi Dai: methodology, conceptualization, investigation, and writing of original draft; Mert Yücel Yardimci: methodology, validation, writing, and review editing; Serdar Aydin: methodology, conceptualization, writing, and review editing; and Geert De Schutter: funding acquisition, supervision, writing, review, and editing.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 36 • Issue 2 • February 2024
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© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Mar 10, 2023
Accepted: Jul 21, 2023
Published online: Nov 24, 2023
Published in print: Feb 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Apr 24, 2024
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