Abstract
This paper investigates the effectiveness of polysaccharide-based biopolymers (natural and semi-synthetic) on the setting time, compressive strength, and microstructural properties of alkali-activated Mn-rich slag pastes. Two types of polysaccharides were used: natural and semi-synthetic. The polysaccharides included gum arabic (GA), guar gum (GG), gum tragacanth (GT), methylcellulose (MC), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). The dosage of polysaccharides was kept constant at 0.1 wt. % relative to the slag. The results indicated that natural and semi-synthetic polysaccharides accelerated and retarded the setting of the alkali-activated slag (AAS) pastes, respectively. All the polysaccharides except for HPMC enhanced the compressive strength compared with the control AAS paste. X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed that polysaccharides generally promote the formation of longer silica chains and hydration products. A plausible interaction mechanism explaining the possible mode of action of polysaccharides in AASs is also presented.
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