Rheology of alkali-activated slag pastes: New insight from microstructural investigations by cryo-SEM

Abstract

This study aims to interpret the early-stage rheology of alkali-activated slag (AAS) paste from microstructure perspectives. The microstructures visualized by cryogenic scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM) revealed the essential distinction between hydroxide and silicate-activated slag pastes. The hydroxide-based mixture showed typical suspension features, where slag particles were dispersed in the hydroxide activators. In the hydroxide media, even at very early ages (5 min), the solid grains were attached to each other through rigid connections of reaction products, which resulted in high yield stress. As for the silicate-based mixtures, an emulsion phase has been observed between slag particles, which consists of discontinuous water droplets and continuous silicate gels. Fine emulsions with smaller water droplets were observed as the silicate modulus of activators increased, which dispersed the slag particles but on the other hand improved the viscosity of the paste. With increasing water to binder ratio, both yield stress and viscosity of AAS pastes significantly reduced.