Optimization of SO3 content in blended cementitious materials

Abstract

Experimental investigation was conducted on the effects of gypsum types and SO3 content on the fluidity and strengths of different cementitious systems. The experimental results show that influences of gypsum in various cementitious materials are different. For cementitious materials blended with various proportions of slag-fly ash and 5% gypsum content, influences of gypsum and calcined gypsum on the fluidity and flexural/compressive strength are similar. It is revealed that “combination effect” and “synergistic effect” of slag and fly ash play an important role during hydration. For cementitious materials with 45% clinkers, 30% slag, 20% fly ash and 5% limestone, the optimized SO3 contents in gypsum and calcined gypsum are 3.13% and 3.51% respectively and the optimized gypsum content is 6.5%. While both of them are blended, the optimum ratio of gypsum to calcined gypsum is 40%:60% (total gypsum content 6.5%), correspondingly the optimum ratio of SO3 is 19.3%:32. 4%.