Abstract

Particle gradations of Portland cement (PC), fly ash (FA), and blast furnace slag (BFS) were optimized to improve the calcium leaching resistance of blended cement with high contents (up to 70%)of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). The results showed that optimized blended cement showed refined initial pore volume distribution, reduced portlandite (CH) content, finer CH macrocrystals and enhanced stability of C-(A)-S-H gel. Consequently, it displayed exceptional calcium leaching resistance with reduced losses in mechanical performance, mass and pore degradation after calcium leaching. Blended cement with 30% PC (D50 = 14.46 μm), 30% FA (D50 = 10.94 μm), 20% BFS (D50 = 10.52 μm), 13% BFS (D50 = 5.31 μm) and 7% BFS (D50 = 4.71 μm), showing compressive strength retention rate of 79.05% and mass loss rate of 1.64%, was suggested as viable choice for calcium leaching resistant concrete.

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