Abstract
This research aims at gaining a further understanding of the impact of accelerating admixtures on the reactivity of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), which are widely used as a clinker replacement in blended cements. This was done on synthetic glasses with controlled composition and structure that mimic two types of real SCMs (slag and calcium-rich fly ash). The effects of DEIPA, TIPA, NaSCN and Na2S2O3 on the glass dissolution, hydration kinetics and reaction products were investigated. The obtained results concluded that the pH of the NaOH solution and the composition of the synthetic glass play a key role on the effect of the admixtures. In 0.1 M NaOH (pH = 13.0), all the studied admixtures inhibited the dissolution of slag-like glasses while they enhanced the dissolution of Ca-rich fly ash-like glasses, being Na2S2O3 the admixture that led to the highest increase of the dissolution rate of the Ca-rich fly ash-type glasses. In 1 M NaOH solutions (pH = 13.8), only the alkali admixtures (NaSCN and Na2S2O3) enhanced the degree of reaction of both glasses. In slag-type glasses pastes mixed with 1 M NaOH, the addition of 2% Na2S2O3 induced the highest increase of their reactivity as inferred by the total heat release and the amount of bound water. This is related to the formation of a high amount of S(II)-AFm, in addition to C-A-S-H, that would increase the aluminium undersaturation of the pore solution and consequently the further dissolution of the glass.
Highlights
Clinker replacement by supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) is currently the most efficient and feasible strategy to decrease the carbon footprint of Portland cement and concrete
The impact of a series of accelerating admixtures commonly used in Portland cement (Na2 S2 O3, NaSCN, TIPA and DEIPA) on the dissolution of model synthetic glasses at high liquid to solid (l/s = 1000) and the reactivity of the corresponding pastes (l/s = 0.4) was investigated
In 0.1 M NaOH, the accelerators inhibited the dissolution of slag-like synthetic glasses may be due to their adsorption on the glass surface, while they increased the dissolution of Ca-rich fly ash-like glasses
Summary
Clinker replacement by supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) is currently the most efficient and feasible strategy to decrease the carbon footprint of Portland cement and concrete. Current global levels of clinker substitution are around 30% Chemical admixtures such as superplasticizers and accelerators have been identified to play a key role to reach higher clinker replacements while preserving the overall mechanical performance [1,2]. Accelerating and strength enhancing admixtures have been widely used to increase the early reactivity and strength of cement and concrete. Their working mechanisms have been extensively investigated in pure Portland cements but barely studied on blended cements
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