Heat evolution in alkali activated synthetic slag–metakaolin mixtures

Abstract

In this study the calorimeter was applied to follow the early hydration of mixtures produced using three different synthetic slag vitreous materials, differing with alumina to silica ratio and mixed or not with synthetic two different metakaolin additions (kaolin heated with sodium containing admixture or without admixture). These mixtures were processed with sodium/potassium hydroxide solutions and placed inside the chamber of calorimeter. The kinetics of hydration process was thus characterized and the hydraulic properties of slag–metakaolin mixtures were very well assessed. Substantial heat evolution was found in the presence of activators, in many cases exceeding 100 J g–1 for 24 h process; heat evolved on hydration with water only was very poor, below 20 J g–1 after 24 h. The rate of heat evolution vs. time plots showed specific shape, more or less similar to the typical heat evolution curves reported for cements. Finally, some conclusions were drawn and the amount/concentration of activators was selected for further studies.