Cement Paste Research Articles

Influence of Surface Pretreatment on the Bond Strength of a Resin Luting Cement to Saliva-contaminated Enamel and Dentin.

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of surface pretreatment on the shear bond strength (SBS) of a resin luting cement to enamel and dentin with saliva contamination. The surface free energies (SFE) of the adherent surfaces were also determined. Bovine enamel and dentin were used in this study. For the saliva-contamination, human saliva was applied to the adherent surface for 60 seconds and then air-dried, and the specimens without saliva contamination served as controls. One group of contaminated surfaces was untreated (SC), and the others were pretreated with Katana Cleaner (KC), Multi Etchant (ME), or Ultra-Etch (UE). Fifteen specimens were prepared to measure the SBS for each test group.The mixed resin luting cement paste was applied to the alumina-blasted surface of a stainless-steel rod and placed on the prepared tooth surface. The luting cement was light irradiated for 40 seconds. The bonded specimens were stored for 24 hours at 37°C and half of the bonded specimens underwent 10,000 thermal cycles. The SBS and SFE of the specimens after different pre-treatments were measured. The two-way ANOVA revealed that the factors of pretreatment agent and storage condition had a significant effect on the SBS to enamel and dentin. The SFE values of the SC group were significantly lower than those of the other groups in both enamel and dentin. The SFE of pretreated surface was material dependent. A pretreatment agent containing functional monomers was shown to be effective in removing saliva contaminants and in creating an effective bonding surface for the resin luting cement.

Incorporation of calcium phosphate cement into decellularized extracellular matrix enhances its bone regenerative properties

Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) hydrogels are engineered constructs that are widely-used in the field of regenerative medicine. However, the development of ECM-based hydrogels for bone tissue engineering requires enhancement in its osteogenic properties. For this purpose, we initially employed bone-derived dECM hydrogel (dECM-Hy) in combination with calcium phosphate cement (CPC) paste to improve the biological and structural properties of the dECM hydrogel. A decellularization protocol for bovine bone was developed to prepare dECM-Hy, and the mechanically-tuned dECM/CPC-Hy was built based on both rheological and mechanical characteristics. The dECM/CPC-Hy displayed a double swelling ratio and compressive strength. An interconnected structure with distinct hydroxyapatite crystals was evident in dECM/CPC-Hy. The expression levels of Alp, Runx2 and Ocn genes were upregulated in dECM/CPC-Hy compared to the dECM-Hy. A 14-day follow-up of the rats receiving subcutaneous implanted dECM-Hy, dECM/CPC-Hy and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-embedded (dECM/CPC/MSCs-Hy) showed no toxicity, inflammatory factor expression or pathological changes. Radiography and computed tomography (CT) of the calvarial defects revealed new bone formation and elevated number of osteoblasts-osteocytes and osteons in dECM/CPC-Hy and dECM/CPC/MSCs-Hy compared to the control groups. These findings indicate that the dECM/CPC-Hy has substantial potential for bone tissue engineering.

Corrosion resistance of polymer-modified hardened cement paste and phosphoric acid-activated metakaolin geopolymer in carbonic acid solution

Corrosion resistance of hardened Portland cement paste (HCP), polymer-modified hardened cement paste (PHCP) and phosphoric acid-activated metakaolin (PMK) geopolymers in carbonic acid solution was comparatively evaluated by multiple techniques of thermogravimetry (TG), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), inductively coupled plasma optical spectrometer (ICP), microindentation and compressive tests. The incorporated polymer kinetically slows down the corrosion process of Portland cement paste as the carbonation depth of PHCP is lower than those of HCP characterized by all techniques. Meanwhile, the addition of polymer slightly hinders leaching of substances from HCP by blocking the pores. Despite the increase of elastic modulus, decreases of compressive strength of both HCP and PHCP samples caused by carbonation are observed probably due to the generation of microcracks and uneven brittleness across the section. PHCP presents less mechanical loss after carbonation treatment than HCP. PMK geopolymer samples soaked in deionized water and carbonic acid solution have comparatively identical results of TG, EDS, FTIR and mechanical measurements, indicating that the PMK geopolymer is highly resistant to carbonic acid, thanks to its inherent acidic nature. In addition, the leaching amount of PMK geopolymer in carbonic acid solution is also much less than the HCP and PHCP.

Microstructure development of calcium carbonate cement through polymorphic transformations

This study presents the mechanical properties and polymorphic transformation of pastes made with calcium carbonate cement, where vaterite was the main component. Both laboratory (compression tests, XRD, & SEM) and synchrotron-based techniques (transmission X-ray microscopy and microtomography) were used in the characterization of the pastes. Mechanical properties were developed by controlling the polymorphic transformation of vaterite. When converting to aragonite, calcium carbonate cement exhibited three times greater strength development compared to its conversion to calcite at a water-to-cement ratio of 0.4, which resulted in 42 % porosity. During the conversion to aragonite, the calcium carbonate cement paste develops an interpenetrating matrix of aragonite needles that enhance strength development through interlocking at a low paste bulk density of 1.6 g/cm3. Together the environmental and mechanical properties of calcium carbonate cement suggest its potential as a greener building material compared to traditional Portland cement.

Investigation on the Preparation and Performance of a Novel Sustained-Release Type Fluid Loss Agent for High-Temperature Resistant Oil Well Cement

Fluid loss agents (FLA) can reduce the fluid loss of cement paste by adsorption on the surface of the cement particles during cementing and decreasing the permeability of the cement cake, ensuring the safety of the cementing. As the exploration of the use of cement is progressing toward deeper and ultra-deeper layers, the use of FLA at high temperatures is urgently necessary. Hence, in this article, we describe the preparation of FLA with an organic/inorganic intercalated microstructure to meet the requirements of cementing at 210 °C. The anionic polymer FLA (ASDA) consists of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, sodium p-styrenesulfonate, N, N-dimethylacrylamide, and sodium 3-allyloxy-1-hydroxy-1-propylene. Organic-inorganic hybrid FLA, magnesium/aluminum-ASDA-hydrotalcite (Mg/Al-ASDA-LDHs) was prepared by intercalating ASDA into the interlayers of magnesium/aluminum layered double hydroxides (Mg/Al-LDHs) via an anion-exchange reaction. The results of thermal stability analysis showed that Mg/Al-ASDA-LDHs had better thermal stability than ASDA, with a decomposition temperature of 416 °C. In addition, the structure effectively mitigated the decrease in compressive strength of the mud caused by the carboxyl groups in the polymer. The Mg/Al-LDHs structure avoids the problem of reduced compressive strength of hardened cements due to conventional polymer FLA. The compressive strength of the cement containing Mg/Al-ASDA-LDHs increased by 57.4% after 7 days of curing compared with the cement containing 3% bwoc (“% bwoc” is defined as “by the weight of cement”) ASDA.

Mechanical properties and fracture phenomena in 3D-printed helical cementitious architected materials under compression

The mechanical response and fracture behavior of two architected 3D-printed hardened cement paste (hcp) elements, ‘lamellar’ and ‘Bouligand’, were investigated under uniaxial compression. A lab-based X-ray microscope was used to characterize the post-fracture crack pattern. The mechanical properties and crack patterns were analyzed and compared to cast hcp. The role of materials architecture and 3D-printing-induced weak interfaces on the mechanical properties and fracture behavior are discussed. The pore architecture that inadvertently forms in the design of solid architected materials dictated the overall mechanical response and fracture behaviors in both 3D-printed architected materials. While no specific crack pattern or microcracking was observed in the cast element, lamellar architecture demonstrated a crack pattern following weak vertical interfaces. Bouligand architectures, on the other hand, exhibited a helical crack pattern with distributed interfacial microcracking aligned with the helical orientation of filaments. As a result, the bouligand architected elements showed a significant 40% increase in work-of-failure compared to cast counterparts. The enhanced energy absorption was obtained without sacrificing the strength and was attributed to higher fractured surface and microcracking, both of which follow the weak helical interfaces.

Effects of superabsorbent polymer on mechanical properties of cemented paste backfill and its mechanism evolution

Cemented paste backfill (CPB) technology offers advantages in safety, efficiency, environmental protection, and economy, and it has been increasingly applied in mines worldwide. The mechanical properties of CPB are critical indicators of the quality of the backfill. Traditionally, cement is used as the primary binding material; however, its high cost and the resulting inconsistent strength of CPB present challenges. Superabsorbent polymer (SAP) has been extensively used in cement-based materials due to its beneficial effects on mechanical properties, shrinkage, and durability. In this study, SAP is incorporated as an additive, with the unclassified tailings from an iron ore mine used as the research material to prepare SAP-enhanced CPB. The study focuses on SAP content, the cement-to-tailings ratio, and curing time as the main influencing factors. Uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) tests, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests were conducted on CPB specimens to investigate the mechanical characteristics of SAP-enhanced CPB and to explore the influencing mechanisms of SAP on CPB. The results indicate that CPB strength initially increases and then decreases with rising SAP content, reaching a maximum UCS value at 0.2 % SAP content. XRD, TGA, and SEM results show that SAP affects the formation of hydration products and the pore structure of CPB. Specifically, when the SAP content is below 0.2 %, increasing SAP content leads to a denser pore structure and lower porosity, which correlates with higher UCS values. There is an exponential decrease in UCS with increasing porosity. Additionally, a quadratic relationship exists between UCS and the amount of calcium hydroxide, a key hydration product in CPB specimens. These findings provide valuable insights for improving the mechanical properties of CPB and serve as a reference for designing the strength of backfill in similar mining applications.

The Contribution of Nano-Alumina to Ultra-High-Performance Cement-Based Systems.

In the last decades, nano-silica (NS), nano-alumina (NA), and nano-calcium oxide (NC) particles have been incorporated into cementitious materials, and it seems that each one of them contributes uniquely to the materials' properties. This research explores the influence of each nanomaterial on the fresh properties of cement pastes and their compressive strength evolution over one year. Low proportions (1.5% by weight) of nanomaterials were added to cement pastes, and their fresh properties, such as heat of hydration and X-ray diffraction patterns in the first hours, were analyzed. The compressive strength and open porosity were also measured long-term. The acceleration of hydration heat in NA-cement pastes is linked to enhanced hydration product formation at early ages. Among the tested nanomaterials, NA increased compressive strength by 10% at later ages. Although the fresh properties of NC-cement pastes remained unaffected, their open porosity decreased by 54% at 28 days. In contrast, the increase in heat of hydration in NS-cement pastes did not result in significant strength improvement. Based on these findings, NA was selected for ultra-high-performance cement (UHPC)-based material use. Its incorporation not only preserved the ultra-high-performance (UHP) properties but also provided additional benefits such as an increase in compressive strength under a CO2 atmosphere. Through detailed analysis, this research establishes that nano-alumina incorporation optimizes the microstructural development and compressive strength of ultra-high-performance cement-based systems, presenting a novel advancement in enhancing the mechanical properties and durability of these materials under various environmental conditions.

Investigation of Strength Concrete Materials Using Pozzolanic Additives

In the study, pozzolanic materials serve as replacements for additives, namely Palm Shell Ash (PSA), Coal Fly Ash (CFA), and Rice Husk Ash (RHA). The purpose of the study is to determine the optimum proportion of additives used in high-performance concrete. The addition of 15% PSA resulted in a strength of 69.227 MPa over a test period of 56 days, while the addition of 15% CFA yielded a strength of 69.369 MPa, and the addition of 5% RHA resulted in a strength of 59.984 MPa. The maximum concrete strength is achieved by adding 15% PSA. Correlation analysis between stress-strain indicates that aggregates exhibit higher strength compared to cement paste, mortar, and concrete, highlighting the relationship between the aggregate, cement paste, mortar components, and concrete as a composite material. Aggregate strength values found to be the highest among concrete, cement paste, and mortar, indicating that cement paste contributes the least to the strength of concrete, followed by mortar as concrete reinforcement. The results suggest that aggregates remain the primary strength component supporting concrete. The finding indicates that the relationship between the basic substances in this study aligns closely with existing theory. Moreover, it suggests that all concrete materials with pozzolan variants can classified as high-quality concrete. The optimum percentage is obtained by adding 15% palm shell ash, resulting in the highest compressive strength compared to counterparts and test objects with other types of pozzolan additions. The relationships between the constituents of concrete demonstrate that aggregates continue to be important contributors to concrete strength, with the cement paste contributing the least. Concrete strength values fall between those of aggregates and those of cement and mortar pastes.

Utilization of Sintered Sludge Ash with Different Mechanical-Thermal Activation Parameters as a Supplementary Cementitious Material: Mechanical Properties and Life Cycle Assessment of Cement-Based Paste.

The proposal of sintered sludge cement (SSC) paste aligns with the low-carbon development goals of building materials. However, there is a lack of scientific guidance for the preparation of sintered sludge ash (SSA). Herein, this study systematically investigates the influence mechanism of mechanical-thermal activation parameters of SSA on the mechanical properties and life cycle assessment (LCA) of SSC paste, and conducts a comprehensive evaluation using a radar chart and the TOPSIS method. The results show that with the increase in calcination temperature and duration, the compressive and flexural strengths of the SSC paste are improved, especially at 600 °C and above, increasing by 57.92% and 62.52%, respectively. The longer calcination time at 1000 °C results in a decrease in its mechanical properties. The addition of SSA significantly reduces the LCA indicators of cement paste. Specifically, 30% SSA only contributes 8.1% to the global warming potential. Compared to calcination, the LCA indicators have less sensitivity to ball milling, and prolonging the time hardly increases them. Based on performance and environmental impact, the optimal SSA is obtained by calcining at 800 °C for 2 h and ball milling for 10 min. This study can provide theoretical guidance for efficient building material utilization of dredged sludge.

Impacts of graphene nanoribbon dispersion and stability on the mechanical and hydration properties of cement paste: Insights from surfactant-assisted ultrasonication

In this study, we aim to evaluate the different dispersion methods that affect the dispersion behavior of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) and to conduct a contrastive analysis of the different surfactants that influence the dispersion and stability of GNRs in deionized (DI) water and alkaline solution. Moreover, we studied uniformly dispersed GNRs with respect to the hydration, mechanical properties, and microstructure of the cement paste. Owing to the surface defects of the GNRs, electrostatic repulsion was sufficient to overcome the van der Waals force and provide a long-term period of high stability. The results show that by using SPs and 60 min of ultrasonication, the dispersibility of GNRs improved by 8.5 % and 25.7 % in DI water and alkaline solution, respectively. Uniformly dispersed GNRs accelerate the hydration and C-S-H polymerization, resulting in significant increases in compressive strength and splitting tensile strength by 17 % and 33 %, respectively, and reduced porosity by 14.6 % after 28 days of curing.

Novel approach to detect encasement failures in the anchorage system of guyed transmission towers by distribution of relaxation times

Anchor rods of guyed transmission towers encapsulated in Portland cement pastes and mortar are usually affected by corrosion processes when buried in soils with chemical aggressiveness. Encasement failures, such as cracks and leaks, cause preferential points of degradation of the inner metal bar, affecting its mechanical integrity over the years and causing, in many cases, the collapse of the transmission tower. However, the nondestructive testing (NDT) used for diagnosis has not shown conclusive results. In this study, a methodology to detect failures in the cement paste encasement was developed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) by evaluating the distribution of relaxation time constants (DRT) to identify different time constants of water in the pore structure of cement paste. These parameters were typically determined by the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry technique, which was not correctly applied to the field tests. From the results, it was possible to detect the presence of cement paste in soils with electrical resistivities varying from 4.0 to 200.0 Ω.m by identifying their time constant at 0.10 ms, which was attributed to the water present in the hydrated calcium silicate gel (C-S-H) interlayers.

Comparison of thermogravimetry response of alkali-activated slag and Portland cement pastes after stopping their hydration using solvent exchange method

AbstractThe critical step for any subsequent instrumental analysis of cementitious binders is to stop their hydration reactions, i.e., to remove free water. One of the most available techniques is a solvent exchange method. However, the solvents are known to be strongly bound in ordinary Portland cement (OPC) paste and alter the results of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and sensitive hydrates, while their effect on TGA response of alkali-activated slag (AAS) has not been comprehensively investigated. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to track the effects of fundamental aspects of the solvent exchange on the TGA response of AAS with different sodium activators (hydroxide, carbonate, waterglass) and to support these results by X-ray diffraction and effluent gas analysis. All solvents used (acetone, diethyl ether, isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, and methanol) affected the TGA response of all tested pastes, and their effect was enhanced by prolonged immersion time. All solvents induced an additional mass loss at around 800 °C and, especially for OPC paste, increased in situ carbonation, even in an inert atmosphere. Methanol and ethanol had a detrimental effect on ettringite and decreased the basal distance of the C–(A)–S–H gel, while they only marginally affected gaylussite. For AAS, hydration stoppage by washing out the alkali-rich pore solution with water was also investigated and can usually be recommended (except for its detrimental effect on gaylussite), as it is more efficient than organic solvents, which lack solubility for activators. Methanol and ethanol are the most suitable alternatives, particularly for NaOH.

Feasibility study on using red mud as a viscosity-modifying agent for self-compacting concrete

Red mud (RM) is a hazardous waste material generated during the alkaline leaching of bauxite in the Bayer process. The feasibility of using RM as a viscosity-modifying agent (VMA) for self-compacting concrete (SCC) was proposed in this study. In addition, RM paste, cement paste, RM-blended paste, SCC that containing RM as VMA were prepared, and those fresh properties were investigated with emphasis. The results show that compared to cement paste, the RM paste exhibited excellent water retention. In the RM-blended cement paste with equivalent fluidity, an increase in RM dosage led to a notable decrease in bleeding rate, accompanied by an increase in yield stress and plastic viscosity. Similarly, in the SCC (containing RM as VMA) with equivalent slump-flow, the segregation rate decreased significantly (17.12 % of segregation for SCC that without RM, and 6.88 % of segregation for SCC that with 12 wt% RM), while yield stress and plastic viscosity increased with higher RM dosages, demonstrating a linear relationship. These findings highlight the feasibility of achieving SCC with high slump-flow and non-segregation by using RM as VMA, and the fresh properties of prepared SCC can be effectively controlled. Meanwhile, the findings of this study offer a novel approach to utilize RM and provide valuable guidance for the application of RM used as VMA.

A novel alkali-slag cemented tailings backfill: Recycling of soda residue and calcium carbide slag

In order to address the safety and environmental concerns associated with high disposal cost and low disposal rate associated with mine tailings, low-cost cemented paste backfills (CPBs) were prepared from solid wastes such as calcium carbide slag (CS), soda residue (SR), ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) and iron tailings (TA) in this study. The effects of mass concentration of filling slurry, GGBS content, activator dosage, and SR proportion on the mechanical properties of CPBs were studied. The results showed that a flow of 235.8 mm and 28-d compressive strength of 2.3 MPa for the freshly mixed slurry could be attained with 75 % mass concentration, 14 % GGBS content, an activator-to-binder ratio of 0.4, and a CS-to-SR ratio of 3:7. The strength of CPBs first increased and then decreased with the increasing of activator dosage or SR proportion contents, and reached the optimal value for the activator-to-binder ratio of 0.4 and SR of 70 % – 75 %. Microstructural analyses by TG-DTG, FTIR, SEM-EDS, and XRD revealed that mainly C-(A)-S-H gel, hydrotalcite (HT), and Friedel's salt (FS) were formed as the hydration products in CS-SR synergistically-activated GGBS paste. The Ca2+ dissolved from CS facilitated GGBS hydration to generate the C-(A)-S-H gels and further reacted with Cl− in SR and [Al(OH)6]3− dissolved from GGBS to generate FS. The combined effect of C-(A)-S-H gel and FS enhances the strength of CPBs. When the percentage of SR is in the range of 70–75 %, the synergistic excitation of slag by alkali slag and calcium carbide slag is superior, and the matrix structure is denser.

Strength characteristics of cement slurry in high geothermal tunnel environment

The early-age strength of grouting material is crucial for tunnel support under high geothermal temperatures. Grouting materials (such as the most commonly used cement slurry) hydrate and solidify under the condition of variable-temperature curing after entering the real stratum. However, the development process of the early strength of cement paste under the condition of variable-temperature curing is still unclear. This aim of this study was to elucidate the environmental effects of high-ground-temperature tunnels on the early strength development of cement stone. Cement slurry was subjected to variable-temperature curing under three different temperatures (T = 40°C, 60°C and 80°C) and two different relative humidities (H = 5% and 95%) through design experiments. Compressive strength tests were conducted, along with microscopic analysis using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. The results indicate that the strength of cement stone under variable-temperature curing was lower than that under constant-temperature curing at the same temperature. The influence of variable-temperature curing conditions on the strength variation of samples with a high water/cement ratio at later age was greater for curing at 80°C. The research results are helpful to understand the influence of environmental effects of high-ground-temperature tunnels on the properties of grouting materials.

Lightweight Calcium-Silicate-Hydrate Nacre with High Strength and High Toughness.

Low flexural strength and toughness have posed enduring challenges to cementitious materials. As the main hydration product of cement, calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) plays important roles in the mechanical performance of cementitious materials while exhibiting random microstructures with pores and defects, which hinder mechanical enhancement. Inspired by the "brick-and-mortar" microstructure of natural nacre, this paper presents a method combining freeze casting, freeze-drying, in situ polymerization, and hot pressing to fabricate C-S-H nacre with high flexural strength, high toughness, and lightweight. Poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) was used to disperse C-S-H and toughen C-S-H building blocks, which function as "bricks", while poly(methyl methacrylate) was impregnated as "mortar". The flexural strength, toughness, and density of C-S-H nacre reached 124 MPa, 5173 kJ/m3, and 0.98 g/cm3, respectively. The flexural strength and toughness of the C-S-H nacre are 18 and 1230 times higher than those of cement paste, respectively, with a 60% reduction in density, outperforming existing cementitious materials and natural nacre. This research establishes the relationship between material composition, fabrication process, microstructure, and mechanical performance, facilitating the design of high-performance C-S-H-based and cement-based composites for scalable engineering applications.

The Influence of Silica Fly Ash and Wood Bottom Ash on Cement Hydration and Durability of Concrete.

This research addresses a notable gap in understanding the synergistic effects of high carbon wood bottom ash (BA) and silica fly ash (FA) on cement hydration and concrete durability by using them as a supplementary material to reduce the amount of cement in concrete and CO2 emissions during cement production. This study analyses the synergistic effect of FA and BA on cement hydration through X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis (TG, DTG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), density, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), compressive strength, and temperature monitoring tests. In addition, it evaluates concrete properties, including compressive strength, UPV, density, water absorption kinetics, porosity parameters, predicted resistance to freezing and thawing cycles, and results of freeze-thawing resistance. The concrete raw materials were supplemented with varying percentages of BA and FA, replacing both cement and fine aggregate at levels of 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 10% and 15%. The results indicate that a 15% substitution of BA and FA delays cement hydration by approximately 5 h and results in only a 6% reduction in compressive strength, with the hardened cement paste showing a strength similar to a 15% replacement with FA. Concrete mixtures with 2.5% BA and 2.5% FA maintained the same maximum hydration temperature and duration as the reference mix. Furthermore, the combined use of both ashes provided adequate resistance to freeze-thaw cycles, with only a 4.7% reduction in compressive strength after 150 cycles. Other properties, such as density, UPV and water absorption, exhibited minimal changes with partial cement replacement by both ashes. This study highlights the potential benefits of using BA and FA together, offering a sustainable alternative that maintains concrete performance while using waste materials.

The adaptability of polycarboxylate superplasticizer in alkaline electrolyzed water (AEW)-based cement composites containing clay: Workability and mechanical properties

Improving the adaptability of polycarboxylate superplasticizers (PCE) in high-clay content mortar is of great significance in enhancing the workability and mechanical properties of mortar containing clay. In this study, the potassium-based alkaline electrolyzed water (AEW) was used as mixing water for cement mortar. The excellent properties of AEW enabled PCE to be more compatible in cement mortar containing montmorillonite (MT) or kaolin (GL), improving the performance of mortar containing clay. The results showed that compared with ordinary tap water (OTW), the adsorption rate of clay minerals on PCE decreased in the AEW environment, and the clay interlayer spacing of MT was also reduced. AEW can inhibit the intercalation and adsorption of PCE molecular side chains by clay minerals to some extent. However, due to its unique crystal structure, the adsorption of MT on PCE was still significantly higher than that of GL. At the same time, increasing the content of clay mineral led to a decrease in mortar performance. Compared with the GL series, the MT series had a more significant negative impact on mortar fluidity and strengths. AEW also can promote hydration reactions, release more hydration heat, and produce more hydration products to encapsulate clay particles, thereby improving the workability and mechanical properties of cement paste containing clay. Furthermore, the high-activity AEW is rich in positively charged metal ions that can interact with clay minerals preferentially over cement particles, which enables the clay interlayer structure to be quickly saturated by AEW water molecules, effectively hindering the adsorption of PCE by clay minerals. However, in both the OTW and AEW environments, the intercalation effect of GL on PCE molecular side chains was not significant. Therefore, AEW has great potential in improving the adaptability of PCE in muddy cement pastes, which can help to enhance the workability and mechanical properties of muddy cement composites. This study provides theoretical references for preparing high-performance anti-clay concrete.

Effect of Thermoactivated Recycled Cement, Hardened Cement Powder and Hydrated Lime on the Compressive Strength of Mortars.

Thermoactivated recycled cement (RC) is a growing area of research and development in the cement industry. The approach represents a reversible process of cement hydration in which dehydrated compounds with similar characteristics to cement are obtained by means of thermal activation. To avoid CO2 emissions during the production of such RC, this study assesses the possibility of replacing ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with hardened cement powder (HCP) prepared with different proportions of hydrated lime (HL), relying on a second pozzolanic reaction, and compares it with RC mortars. Due to the thermal activation of HCP, the compressive strength increases by 11.5%. The addition of 8% HL produced an important increase in strength from 28 days to 90 days by 12.8%, although without surpassing the strength values of mortar produced only with HCP or with RC. The compressive strength results suggest the existence of a secondary pozzolanic reaction when using HCP from a cement paste source, but such a pozzolanic reaction was fully perceived in XRD patterns when using concrete as parent material, unlike cement paste, possibly due to large crystalline sand peaks that could have hindered the effective identification of smaller crystalline peaks.