Alkali-aggregate behaviour of alkali-activated slag mortars: Effect of aggregate type

Abstract

The alkali–silica reaction in waterglass-alkali-activated slag (waterglass-AAS) and ordinary Portland cement (OPC) mortars was evaluated using three types of (siliceous and calcareous) aggregates. The tests were conducted to the ASTM C1260-94 standard test method. The mortars were studied by volume stability, mechanical strength and Hg intrusion porosity. The ASR products were studied with XRD, FTIR and SEM/EDX techniques. According to the results obtained, under the test conditions applied in this study, waterglass-AAS mortars are stronger and more resistant to alkali-aggregate reactions than OPC mortars. When the mortars were made with a reactive siliceous aggregate, expansion was four times greater in the OPC than in the AAS material. When a reactive calcareous (dolomite) aggregate was used, no expansion was detected in any of the mortars after 14 days, although the characterization results showed that the dolomite had reacted and calcareous-alkali products (brucite) had in fact formed in both mortars. These reactive processes were more intense in OPC than in AAS mortars, probably due to the absence of portlandite in the latter. When the calcareous aggregate was non-reactive, no expansions were observed in any of the mortars, although a substantial rise was recorded in the mechanical strength of AAS mortars exposed to the most aggressive conditions (1 M NaOH and 80 °C).