Mixtures of powders of waste glass (WG), limestone (LS), Na2CO3 and CaO were used to formulate novel one-part in situ alkali-activated cement (WG-AAC). The in-situ interaction Na2CO3-CaO-H2O promoted the formation of CaCO3 and NaOH, which promoted the WG and LS dissolution and influenced the micro- and molecular features of the resulting cementitious products. Pastes and mortars developed 1-year strengths of up to 29 MPa and were stable underwater. Characterization by XRD, SEM, EDS, and 29Si-NMR indicated that a Na2CO3:CaO ratio close to 1:1 resulted in polymerized C-S-H, CaCO3, silica gel, and Ca-modified silica gel, which were intimately intermixed and possibly crosslinked through Q3 bonds. Such phases interacted synergistically improving the underwater stability of the WG-AAC, indicating that in-situ caustification is a suitable and practical alkaline activation for SiO2-rich precursors.
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