Effects of Different Reactive MgOs on the Hydration of MgO-Activated GGBS Paste
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 27, Issue 7
Abstract
Reactive MgO has recently emerged as a potential activator for ground-granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), which is one of the most widely used by-products in the cement industry. However, it is known that the characteristics of reactive MgO vary significantly, which may affect the activation process and hence the performance of MgO-GGBS blends. In this study, seven commercially available reactive MgOs, whose characteristics vary widely, were chosen to activate GGBS. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of MgO-GGBS pastes up to 90 days was measured, and the hydration products were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The primary hydration products were identified as calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) and hydrotalcitelike phases (Ht). Minor hydration products included magnesium silicate hydrate (M-S-H) and ettringite. The reactivity and calcium oxide content of the MgO samples were found to be the two major factors affecting the hydration process of the MgO-GGBS blend. Higher reactivity did not change the hydration products, but resulted in more hydration products in the same time. Sufficient CaO content increased the pH of the system, which enhanced the slag dissolution degree and was beneficial to the strength development.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to the Cambridge Trusts and China Scholarship Council (CSC) for their financial help of the Ph.D. studentship for the first author.
References
Alarconruiz, L., Platret, G., Massieu, E., and Ehrlacher, A. (2005). “The use of thermal analysis in assessing the effect of temperature on a cement paste.” Cem. Concr. Res., 35(3), 609–613.
Bäckblom, G. (2004). “R&D on low-pH cement for a geological repository.” Proc., 2nd Low-pH workshop, ESDRED, Madrid, Spain.
Bakharev, T. (2005). “Durability of geopolymer materials in sodium and magnesium sulfate solutions.” Cem. Concr. Res., 35(6), 1233–1246.
Birchal, V. S., Rocha, S. D., and Ciminelli, V. S. (2000). “The effect of magnesite calcination conditions on magnesia hydration.” Miner. Eng., 13(14–15), 1629–1633.
Brew, D. R. M., and Glasser, F. P. (2005). “Synthesis and characterisation of magnesium silicate hydrate gels.” Cem. Concr. Res., 35(1), 85–98.
British Standards. (2005). “Methods of testing cement-Part 1: Determination of strength.” BS EN 196-1, Standards Policy and Strategy Committee, BSI, London.
Caraballo, M. A., Rötting, T. S., Macías, F., Nieto, J. M., and Ayora, C. (2009). “Field multi-step limestone and MgO passive system to treat acid mine drainage with high metal concentrations.” Appl. Geochem., 24(12), 2301–2311.
Cui, X., and Deng, M. (2008). “Effects of calcined conditions on activity of MgO.” J. Nanjing Univ. Technol., 30(4), 52–55.
Dweck, J., Buchler, P. M., Coelho, A. C. V., and Cartledge, F. K. (2000). “Hydration of a portland cement blended with calcium carbonate.” Thermochimica Acta, 346(1–2), 105–113.
Dweck, J., Ferreira da Silva, P., Büchler, P., and Cartledge, F. (2002). “Study by thermogravimetry of the evolution of ettringite phase during type II portland cement hydration.” J. Therm. Anal. Calorim., 69(1), 179–186.
Escalante, J. (2001). “Reactivity of blast-furnace slag in portland cement blends hydrated under different conditions.” Cem. Concr. Res., 31(10), 1403–1409.
Escalante-Garcia, J. I. (2003). “Nonevaporable water from neat OPC and replacement materials in composite cements hydrated at different temperatures.” Cem. Concr. Res., 33(11), 1883–1888.
Eubank, W. R. (1951). “Calcination studies of magnesium oxides.” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 34(8), 225–229.
Fukumoto, N., Sasaki, K., Moriyama, S., and Hirajima, T. (2011). “Synthesis of magnesia as a reusable sorbent for fluoride.” J. Novel Carbon Resour. Sci., 4, 32–35.
García, M. A., Chimenos, J. M., Fernández, A. I., Miralles, L., Segarra, M., and Espiell, F. (2004). “Low-grade MgO used to stabilize heavy metals in highly contaminated soils.” Chemosphere, 56(5), 481–491.
García Giménez, R., Rodríguez, O., Vigil de la Villa, R., and Frías, M. (2012). “Changes to the triaxial composition of the hydrated phases () in the metakaolin/lime system.” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 95(3), 1118–1122.
Ghanbari Ahari, K., Sharp, J. H., and Lee, W. E. (2002). “Hydration of refractory oxides in castable bond systems—I: Alumina, magnesia, and alumina-magnesia mixtures.” J. Eur. Ceram. Soc., 22(4), 495–503.
Gruyaert, E., Robeyst, N., and De Belie, N. (2010). “Study of the hydration of portland cement blended with blast-furnace slag by calorimetry and thermogravimetry.” J. Therm. Anal. Calorim., 102(3), 941–951.
Haha, M. B., Lothenbach, B., Saout, G. L., and Winnefeld, F. (2011a). “Influence of slag chemistry on the hydration of alkali-activated blast-furnace slag—Part I: Effect of MgO.” Cem. Concr. Res., 41(9), 955–963.
Haha, M. B., Saout, G. L., Winnefeld, F., and Lothenbach, B. (2011b). “Influence of activator type on hydration kinetics, hydrate assemblage and microstructural development of alkali activated blast-furnace slags.” Cem. Concr. Res., 41(3), 301–310.
Hbert, G., Billard, C., Rossi, P., and Chen, C. (2010). “Cement production technology improvement compared to factor 4 objectives.” Cem. Concr. Res., 40(5), 820–826.
Jensen, A. T., Aaes, O., and Madsen, H. E. (1986). “The reactivity of magnesium oxide in relation to its use as a feed additive.” Acta Agric. Scand., 36(2), 217–224.
Jin, F., and Al-Tabbaa, A. (2013a). “Characterisation of different commercial reactive magnesia.” Adv. Cem. Res., 26(2), 101–113.
Jin, F., and Al-Tabbaa, A. (2013b). “Thermogravimetric study on the hydration of reactive MgO and silica mixture at room temperature.” Thermochim. Acta, 566, 162–168.
Jin, F., Gu, K., and Al-Tabbaa, A. (2013). “Strength and hydration properties of reactive MgO-activated ground granulated blastfurnace slag paste.” Cem. Concr. Res., in press.
Juenger, M. C., Winnefeld, F., Provis, J. L., and Ideker, J. H. (2011). “Advances in alternative cementitious binders.” Cem. Concr. Res., 41(12), 1232–1243.
Kakali, G., and Tsivilis, S. (1998). “Hydration of ordinary portland cements made from raw mix containing transition element oxides.” Cem. Concr. Res., 28(3), 335–340.
Li, C., Sun, H., and Li, L. (2010). “A review: The comparison between alkali-activated slag () and metakaolin () cements.” Cem. Concr. Res., 40(9), 1341–1349.
Li, X. (2012). “Mechanical performance and durability of MgO cement concrete.” Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Cambridge, Cambridge, U.K.
Liska, M., and Al-Tabbaa, A. (2008). “Performance of magnesia cements in pressed masonry units with natural aggregates: Production parameters optimisation.” Constr. Build. Mater., 22(8), 1789–1797.
Lu, L. W., Davidson, D. T., Handy, R. L., and Laguros, J. G. (1957). “The calcium-magnesium ratio in soil-lime stabilization.” Soils Geol. Found., 36, 794–805.
Marsh, B. K. B. K., and Day, R. L. (1988). “Pozzolanic and cementitious reactions of fly ash in blended cement pastes.” Cem. Concr. Res., 18(2), 301–310.
Mitsuda, T., and Taguchi, H. (1977). “Formation of magnesium silicate hydrate and its crystallization to talc.” Cem. Concr. Res., 7(3), 223–230.
Mo, L., Deng, M., and Tang, M. (2010). “Effects of calcination condition on expansion property of MgO-type expansive agent used in cement-based materials.” Cem. Concr. Res., 40(3), 437–446.
Ono, H., and Wada, S. I. (2007). “Properties of layer silicates formed from mixtures at 25°C.” J. Faculty Agric. Kyushu Univ., 52(1), 159–162.
Pacewska, B., Blonkowski, G., and Wili’nska, I. (2006). “Investigations of the influence of different fly ashes on cement hydration.” J. Therm. Anal. Calorim., 86(1), 179–186.
Pacheco-Torgal, F., Castro-Gomes, J., and Jalali, S. (2008). “Alkali-activated binders: A review. Part 2. About materials and binders manufacture.” Constr. Build. Mater., 22(7), 1315–1322.
Parashar, P., Sharma, V., Agarwal, D. D., and Richhariya, N. (2012). “Rapid synthesis of hydrotalcite with high antacid activity.” Mater. Lett., 74, 93–95.
Parrott, L., Geiker, M., Gutteridge, W., and Killoh, D. (1990). “Monitoring portland cement hydration: Comparison of methods.” Cem. Concr. Res., 20(6), 919–926.
Provis, J. L., Duxson, P., Van Deventer, J. S. J., and Lukey, G. C. (2005a). “The role of mathematical modelling and gel chemistry in advancing geopolymer technology.” Chem. Eng. Res. Des., 83(7), 853–860.
Provis, J. L., Lukey, G., and van Deventer, J. (2005b). “Do geopolymers actually contain nanocrystalline zeolites? A reexamination of existing results.” Chem. Mater., 17(12), 3075–3085.
Ramachandran, V. S., Paroli, R. M., Beaudoin, J. J., and Delgado, A. H. (2002). Handbook of thermal analysis of construction materials, William Andrew, New York.
Rötting, T. S., Ayora, C., and Carrera, J. (2008). “Improved passive treatment of high Zn and Mn concentrations using caustic magnesia (MgO): Particle size effects.” Environ. Sci. Technol., 42(24), 9370–9377.
Roy, A., Schilling, P., and Eaton, H. (1992). “Activation of ground blast furnace slag by alkali metal and alkaline earth hydroxides.” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 75(12), 3233–3240.
Scrivener, K. L., and Kirkpatrick, R. J. (2008). “Innovation in use and research on cementitious material.” Cem. Concr. Res., 38(2), 128–136.
Sha, W. (2002). “Differential scanning calorimetry study of the hydration products in portland cement pastes with metakaolin replacement.” Proc., Int. Conf. on Advances in Building Technology, Elsevier Science, Oxford, U.K., 881–888.
Shand, M. A. (2006). The chemistry and technology of magnesia, Wiley, Hoboken, NJ.
Shi, C., Krivenko, P. V., and Roy, D. M. (2006). Alkali-activated cements and concretes, Taylor & Francis, Abingdon, U.K.
Song, S., Sohn, D., and Jennings, H. (2000). “Hydration of alkali-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag.” J. Mater. Sci., 35(1), 249–257.
Sun, W. H., Cui, C., Zhang, H. H., and Cui, K. H. (1991). “Relationship between crystalline size and lattice distortion of MgO and its activity.” J. WuHan Univ. Technol., 13(4), 21–24.
Tartaglione, G., Tabuani, D., and Camino, G. (2008). “Thermal and morphological characterisation of organically modified sepiolite.” Microporous Mesoporous Mater., 107(1–2), 161–168.
Vandeperre, L. J., Liska, M., and Al-Tabbaa, A. (2008). “Microstructures of reactive magnesia cement blends.” Cem. Concr. Compos., 30(8), 706–714.
Vedalakshmi, R., Sundara Raj, A., Srinivasan, S., Ganesh Babu, K. (2003). “Quantification of hydrated cement products of blended cements in low and medium strength concrete using TG and DTA technique.” Thermochim. Acta, 407(1–2), 49–60.
Wei, J., Chen, Y., and Li, Y. (2006). “The reaction mechanism between MgO and microsilica at room temperature.” J. Wuhan Univ. Technol., 21(2), 88–91.
Wei, J., Yu, Q., Zhang, W., and Zhang, H. (2011). “Reaction products of MgO and microsilica cementitious materials at different temperatures.” J. Wuhan Univ. Technol. Mater. Sci. Ed., 26(4), 745–748.
Yang, K.-H., Cho, A.-R., Song, J.-K., and Nam, S.-H. (2012). “Hydration products and strength development of calcium hydroxide-based alkali-activated slag mortars.” Constr. Build. Mater., 29, 410–419.
Yang, K.-H., Sim, J.-I., and Nam, S.-H. (2010). “Enhancement of reactivity of calcium hydroxide-activated slag mortars by the addition of barium hydroxide.” Constr. Build. Mater., 24(3), 241–251.
Yi, Y., Liska, M., and Al-Tabbaa, A. (2013). “Properties and microstructure of GGBS-MgO pastes.” Adv. Cem. Res., 26(2), 114–122.
Yi, Y., Liska, M., and Al-Tabbaa, A. (2014). “Properties of two model soils stabilised with different blends and contents of GGBS, MgO, lime and PC.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng., 267–274.
Yip, C. K., Lukey, G. C., and van Deventer, J. S. J. (2005). “The coexistence of geopolymeric gel and calcium silicate hydrate at the early stage of alkaline activation.” Cem. Concr. Res., 35(9), 1688–1697.
Zhang, T., Cheeseman, C. R., and Vandeperre, L. J. (2011). “Development of low pH cement systems forming magnesium silicate hydrate (MSH).” Cem. Concr. Res., 41(4), 439–442.
Zhou, J., Guang, Y., and van Breugel, K. (2006). “Hydration of portland cement blended with blast furnace slag at early age.” Second Int. Symp. on Advances in Concrete through Science and Engineering, RILEM Publications SARL, Bagneux, France.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 27 • Issue 7 • July 2015
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 28, 2013
Accepted: Dec 19, 2013
Published online: Dec 21, 2013
Discussion open until: Sep 2, 2014
Published in print: Jul 1, 2015
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.