Hydration kinetics and properties of cement blended with mechanically activated gold mine tailings

Abstract

In this study, the hydration kinetics and properties of cement blended with raw and mechanically activated gold mine tailings were investigated. The results showed that the activity index of the activated tailings was 82.88%, and it is feasible to prepare blend cement from mechanically activated tailings. The Krstulovic–Dabic model could well simulate the hydration process of the paste sample blended with activated tailings, but not suitable for the paste blended with raw tailings. The addition of the activated tailings in cement reduced the hydration heat, prolonged the nucleation and crystal growth stage, and shorten the interactions at phase boundaries reaction stage. The mechanically activated gold mine tailings could react with Ca(OH)2 to form hydration products due to the pozzolanic reaction. The present experimental research provided a theoretical basis for utilizing gold mine tailings in cement as pozzolan, which would be environmentally friendly and cost-effective.